Fentanyl Awareness

In support of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, the City of Alexandria’s Opioid Treatment Program worked to raise awareness about fentanyl-laced illicit drugs, ways that residents can prevent substance misuse, and treatment resources to manage substance use disorders.
Page updated on June 4, 2024 at 1:18 PM
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May 28, 2024- In support of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, the City of Alexandria’s Opioid Treatment Program worked to raise awareness about fentanyl-laced illicit drugs, ways that residents can prevent substance misuse, and treatment resources to manage substance use disorders. 

In 2022, more than 73,000 people died from a fentanyl overdose in the US, double the number of deaths from three years prior. Fentanyl-involved deaths are fastest growing among 14 to 23-year-olds. Fentanyl is found in fake pills and many street drugs with users unaware that their drugs contain a potent opioid. Cutting fentanyl counterfeit prescription pills like Oxycodone, Percocet and Xanax and marketing them is common. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, four out of ten pills with illicit fentanyl tested in their labs contain a potentially lethal dose. 

At a May 7 event at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, the team provided treatment information, health resources, free distribution of Narcan overdose medication and demonstrations of proper use and made available test strips for fentanyl and other drugs.  

Representatives from DCHS’s Center for Adult Services (CAS) and DCHS Director Kate Garvey also attended a health fair at the Chick Armstrong Recreational Center where the group met with over 300 community members to provide information about a variety of services, including Opioid Treatment, Outpatient Therapy, Same Day Access, Peer Support Services and more.  

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Dr. Ivey-Crowe providing demonstrations on the use of Narcan, the life-saving opiate overdose reversal agent.

The events are part of ongoing community engagement efforts to provide information about services as well as opioid overdose education and the administration of Narcan. 

The Opioid Work Group and the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) encourage residents to spread lifesaving information about fentanyl and to prevent medication misuse by: 

  • Raising awareness about only taking medication prescribed by a doctor or purchased at a pharmacy.  

  • Sharing information about the dangers associated with fentanyl in fake pills and street drugs. 

  • Exploring resources available for parents and other caring adults to initiate conversations with youth. 

  • Disposing of unused or expired medication via one of several safe options for disposal. 

  • Accessing free locking medication boxes to secure medication.  

  • Getting free Narcan. 

The City’s Department of Community and Human Services provides access to treatment for people dealing with any substance misuse. Call 703.746.3636 (Virginia Relay 711) 24 hours a day. For help stopping the use of heroin or other opioids, call the Opioid Treatment Program at 703.746.3610. Always call 911 if you suspect someone is overdosing.  To provide information regarding past overdoses or drug activity, please call the Alexandria Police Department at 703.746.6277. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids for more information. Visit alexandriava.gov/SAPCA to learn about ways to prevent youth substance misuse.

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The City of Alexandria collected and safely disposed of 172 lbs. of unused, expired and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medication collected during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day