DEA speaks at National Fentanyl Prevention Day Awareness Day

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — In today’s Community Conversations, Carlos Briano of the Drug Enforcement Administration spoke on the KFOX14 Morning News about National Fentanyl Prevention Day.

Briano said the day was created in 2022 after many loved ones lost someone to fentanyl poisoning.

“Charities and organizations have come together to create National Fentanyl Prevention Awareness Day and the DEA supports these efforts.

“In 2017, there were less than 10 fentanyl-related deaths (in El Paso), but last year that number was well over 100,” Briano said.

“We always said El Paso was a transit route where drugs would just come through, but unfortunately they stay here and we’re seeing that more and more,” he said.

“Medical grade fentanyl is administered professionally under the supervision of medical professionals. At the DEA, we are talking about illegal fentanyl that is produced by drug cartels who put it in other medications or package it in counterfeit medications, such as pills. Those forms are not available in medical settings,” Briano said.

Briano said about 22 teenagers die from fentanyl poisoning every week.

“Just 22 milligrams can be potentially lethal,” he said.

People can find information at https://www.dea.gov/onepill.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:

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