Makin’ It Happen Course: Fentanyl Facts and Overdose Risk
This course shares information about the dangers and facts of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, highlighting their role as the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. The course will discuss how fentanyl is increasingly mixed into counterfeit pills and street drugs and how the potency and unpredictability of these substances contribute to overdose risk. The course also dispels common myths about fentanyl exposure, particularly among first responders, and reinforces the importance of evidence-based safety practices.
Participants will gain a clear understanding of how to respond to fentanyl-related risks using science-backed strategies. Topics include the importance of naloxone distribution, overdose prevention education, and access to effective treatment options.
- Understand facts about fentanyl in the U.S.
- Recognize the increasing overdose risk.
- Learn resources for communities.
- Understand the dangers and facts of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, highlighting their role as the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States.
- Describe the public health impact of fentanyl, including its role in the rise of overdose deaths and the need for expanded prevention and treatment efforts.
- Recognize common myths and misinformation about fentanyl exposure and explain the evidence-based facts that counter those myths.
- Understand appropriate safety practices when responding to potential fentanyl exposure, including effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- General Public
This course is sponsored by the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN), an initiative funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Addiction Policy Forum & the Makin’ It Happen. (2025). Makin’ It Happen Course: Fentanyl Facts and Overdose Risk. Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network Coordination and Translation Center. https://www.jcoinctc.org/courses/makin-it-happen-course-fentanyl-facts-and-overdose-risk/
