DEA Warns Public About Large Amount of Fentanyl Laced Pills Around the US
DEA Warns About Fake Fentanyl and Meth Death Pills
Los Angeles Field Division, Special Agent in Charge of the Crimes, Bill Bodner, said that they are warning the public to help save lives. Fentanyl-laced pills have continued to be a problem in recent years, with no end in sight.
“We want to save lives and protect the community with this important awareness campaign. The sad reality is that these dangerous counterfeit pills made with Fentanyl are having deadly consequences not just in Los Angeles but nationwide. As Individuals are being deceived and families are grieving the loss of loved ones, drug dealers profit. It’s not the pill you think it is.” (DEA Press Release)
Anne Milgram of the DEA Speaks to the Press
The Washington Post reported the urgency of the matter as told to the Post by Anne Milgram, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. She stated how dangerous the numbers of pills are that are available on the streets. “We decided to do this because the amounts are staggering,” said Milgram in an interview with The Washington Post.
“We are in the midst, in my view, of an overdose crisis, and the counterfeit pills are driving so much of it.” (Washington Post)
DEA is Working to Save Lives Against Fentanyl-Laced Opiate Pills
All major media outlets received the DEA public warning to help prompt public awareness of the pills. Milgram also relayed her concerns at length in the press release about the pills and the huge risk for accidental overdose.
“The United States is facing an unprecedented crisis of overdose deaths fueled by illegally manufactured Fentanyl and methamphetamine. The counterfeit pills that contain these dangerous and extremely addictive drugs are more lethal and more accessible than ever before. In fact, DEA lab analyses reveal that two out of every five fake pills with Fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. DEA is focusing resources on taking down the violent drug traffickers causing the greatest harm and posing the greatest threat to the safety and health of Americans. Today, we are alerting the public to this danger so that people have the information they need to protect themselves and their children.” (Milgram)
How to Identify Fake Opioid Pills
The press release notes how the pills are made and where they are being bought. They reference the internet as one major source of these fentanyl death pills.
“The counterfeit pills are illegally manufactured by criminal drug networks and are made to look like real prescription opioid medications such as oxycodone (Oxycontin®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), and alprazolam (Xanax®); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall®). Fake prescription pills are widely accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms – making them available to anyone with a smartphone, including minors.” (DEA)