A new public service announcement asks Connecticut residents to remain vigilant during this ongoing opioid abuse epidemic, and issues a warning about the increasing percentage of fentanyl now found in counterfeit prescription pills that are illegally trafficked in the U.S.
The PSA was released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and the New England Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Overdose deaths due to fentanyl intoxication have become a devastating part of the fabric of Connecticut and our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. “While there are indications that annual overdose death rates are no longer rising and may have leveled off, or slightly decreased, far too many people continue to die accidentally by consuming fentanyl and counterfeit pills that contain it. While our office, the DEA, and our other federal, state, and local partners continue to work to dismantle drug trafficking rings and stem the flow of these deadly drugs, we ask the public to remain vigilant and continue to spread awareness to family and friends.”
“Last year, the DEA seized thousands of pounds of fentanyl powder and more than 79 million fentanyl-laced pills across the U.S.,” said David Lanzoni, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA, New England.
“But as drug poisoning is now the leading cause of death of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45, we clearly have more work to do,” added. “Everyone needs to know that nearly all of the pills sold on the street are counterfeit, and approximately seven out of ten them contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.”
Additional resources on fentanyl and fentanyl pills, as well as prevention and treatment, are available at www.dea.gov/onepill.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford.