CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL- A few weeks ago, you may have noticed a new addition to the many posters that cover the halls of Centennial. This poster plastered around the school displays the dangers of the drug, fentanyl. But why is the school focusing specifically on this drug?

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Anne Milgram says that “fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered”. Fentanyl is an opioid drug with a high risk for addiction and death; it is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. It is very easy to become dependent, and as little as two milligrams of the substance can cause overdose or death. Its danger is incredibly apparent, and therefore the drug should be avoided at all costs.

It doesn’t help that over the past couple of years, fentanyl has become a huge threat to the public, especially for young adults. Fentanyl poisoning is currently “the leading cause of death for people ages 18 to 45 in the US”. Above car accidents, above suicide, above COVID-19, fentanyl is killing tens of thousands of people, and most of the time, these overdoses are accidents. 

So what can you do to stay safe? For starters, don’t take any illegal substances, especially from people you don’t know. Many drug dealers will put potentially lethal doses of fentanyl inside their substances due to its extreme addictive properties. Also, be sure you’re not taking any medicine that isn’t yours or that isn’t properly sealed: you don’t know if it has been tampered with. You can also help others by spreading awareness on the annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day, which is May 10. 

Fentanyl isn’t a joke. If you suspect someone may be taking or dealing fentanyl to others, report it immediately to a trusted adult, or even call the police if it’s an emergency. You could save a life.