No Safe Experience
Get the facts about fentanyl and how it is becoming more prevalent in illicit substances and fake pills. Don’t take a chance: with fentanyl, there is no safe experience.
Fentanyl is widespread and deadly - and it’s here in New Hampshire.
While fentanyl use is a major national issue, it is hitting home in New Hampshire as the drug continues to be discovered in more substances. NH State Police report that fentanyl is now showing up in over half of the drug samples submitted to the Forensic Laboratory in 2022 – nearly a 70% increase over 2021.
What is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin and morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for pain management for the treatment of cancer patients. The type of fentanyl we are talking about is not the fentanyl that you would receive in a healthcare setting. A dose the size of a few grains of salt can be lethal and it is often found to be mixed with other illicit substances. It is now regularly seen in fake pills branded as Oxycodone® and Percocet® among others.
Get the Facts
Over the past five years, there have been more fentanyl overdoses than all other illicit drugs in New Hampshire combined. Because it is very hard to detect outside of a lab setting and is regularly mixed in with other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, a single use can be deadly. In fact, fentanyl accounted for over 80% of drug overdose deaths in New Hampshire in 2023.
According to drug data from the New Hampshire Office of Chief Medical Examiner, as of May 14, 2024, 229 of the 430 New Hampshire overdose deaths were from fentanyl alone and 133 were from a combination of fentanyl and another drug.
Know the Risk
Fake pills are made to look similar to real prescription medications – including Oxycodone® and Percocet® – but only contain filler and fentanyl and can be deadly. Source: 2022 DEA Laboratory testing results
Other frequently encountered fake pills seen in the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory include those posing as the prescription medications Adderall® and Xanax® and they are found to contain Methamphetamine or other chemicals created to mimic the effects of the actual prescribed compounds.
Warning Signs
Learn more about the learning signs of illicit drug use on the American Addiction Centers website.
Resources
There are a growing number of resources available to individuals, parents, schools and communities on fentanyl use and its presence in new substances, powders and pills.
988 - National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
For families – If you feel you need help, see a medical provider for help with properly prescribed medication. Help is available if you or a loved one needs support for substance misuse. Call 988 to support your recovery.
NH 211 General helpline
This also connects you to The Doorway system.
NH Rapid Response Access Point
Naloxone
Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. Administered when a patient is showing signs of opioid overdose, naloxone is a temporary treatment and its effects do not last long. Therefore, it is critical to obtain medical intervention as soon as possible after administering/receiving naloxone.
Naloxone can be accessed for free.
Social Media
Stay connected with the No Safe Experience campaign on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About the Campaign
“No Safe Experience” is a New Hampshire-based, statewide campaign that focuses on awareness by educating youth, young adults and families of the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl in illicit drugs.
Campaign Goals
- Reach Those at Risk: The No Safe Experience campaign seeks to target individuals who may be inclined to try substances without fully understanding what they are, where they came from and what might actually be in them.
- Facts, Not Fear: Use facts and education as the greatest tool in preventing substance misuse and premature loss of life.
- Help Educate: Help educate parents to encourage them to have a conversation with their children and friends about the presence of fentanyl in communities, and the danger this poses.
Education Toolkit
Informational Rack Card
A key component of the campaign is to provide school districts with access to materials that could be used to help better educate youth. Informational Rack Cards can be downloaded for free.
Letter to Parents
A templated letter to parents that encourages them to talk to their children about fentanyl awareness. All you need to do is add your school letterhead and administrator signature to it and it’s ready to go.
Resource Sheet
There are a growing number of resources available to individuals, parents, schools and communities on fentanyl use and its presence in substances, powders and pills.
Informational Poster
Starter kits were provided to schools with 11” x 14” posters to hang in bathrooms, classrooms, offices, and other community areas focused on seventh graders and above. If needed, more posters can be printed in-house.
Partners
Many organizations are involved in the No Safe Experience campaign and committed to getting the word out on the risks and dangers of fentanyl is a shared goal. They include organizations representing healthcare behavioral health, prevention, law enforcement, education and more.
Related Campaigns
Get Smart about Drugs - DEA Resource for parents, educators and caregivers.
