National Fentanyl Awareness Day

Dear DFC & CARA Coalition Leaders,

Tuesday, April 29 marks the fourth annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day, an essential observance founded by parents who have tragically lost loved ones to the overdose crisis. This cross-sector initiative—supported by subject matter experts, corporations, nonprofits, schools, families, and elected officials—aims to elevate the dialogue around illegally made fentanyl (IMF) and mobilize unified action.

The Challenge

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even trace amounts can be deadly. IMF is frequently mixed into heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine or pressed into counterfeit pills designed to resemble legitimate prescription medication. This mixing makes fentanyl extremely dangerous, as many individuals may unknowingly consume fentanyl-laced substances. These practices dramatically increase the risk for unsuspecting users and continue to drive the majority of overdose fatalities in the United States.

Recent Progress & Ongoing Priorities

Recent preliminary CDC data estimate a 26.5% decline in overdose deaths in the U.S. in the 12 months ending November 2024, compared to the same time frame of the previous year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently renewed the national public health emergency declaration, ensuring sustained federal coordination on prevention, surveillance, and response to the opioid crisis. Despite the downward trend in overdose deaths, fentanyl remains the predominant driver of overdose mortality—underscoring our collective imperative to intensify preventive efforts.

CDC Continues Robust Efforts to Address Overdose Crisis

• The Stop Overdose campaigns offer free shareable resources to educate and protect the public from overdoses involving fentanyl. Resources include videos, factsheets, and social media content—emphasizing preventable measures such as carrying naloxone, a lifesaving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

• The Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program strengthens U.S. overdose surveillance and provides both fatal (SUDORS) and nonfatal (DOSE) data systems. Continued investments leverage real time data to create interventions at the community level. Currently, 90 health departments receive OD2A funding to collect, improve, and immediately use the data in their communities to provide risk reduction services and link people to the care they need.

Call to Action!

• On April 29th, we invite you to join us in raising awareness and driving prevention efforts: Use our CDC NFAD partner toolkit and NFAD toolkit to access key messages, social media templates, partner emails, and more.

• Make use of our Stop Overdose campaigns resources—including factsheets, videos, and social media content—to educate your communities about the dangers of illicit fentanyl and promote the importance of carrying naloxone.

• Follow social accounts Twitter: @FentAwareDay and Facebook: National Fentanyl Awareness Day

• Amplify the conversation on social media using #NationalFentanylAwarenessDay, #StopOverdose, and #NFAD2025, and consider hosting virtual briefings or local media collaborations.

Additional Resources

• CDC’s Stop Overdose Campaigns: Fentanyl Facts, Lifesaving Naloxone, Naloxone FAQ

• Overdose Prevention: Preventing Opioid Overdose and Reverse Opioid Overdose to Prevent Death

• Programs: Overdose Data to Action (OD2A), Drug-Free Communities (DFC)

• Data Dashboards: SUDORS, DOSE, and Mapping Injury, Overdose, & Violence

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment. By leveraging data-driven strategies and unified engagement, together we can transform awareness into decisive action, reduce overdose deaths —and save lives.

Best,

The ONDCP & CDC DFC Program Team