# Plain Language Summary: National Fentanyl Awareness Day Resolution

This is a resolution that officially recognizes and supports National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2022. Think of it as Congress saying "we acknowledge this problem exists and we support efforts to raise awareness about it." It's not a law that creates new rules or programs—it's more like an official statement of support.

The resolution focuses on a serious public health crisis: fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Drug traffickers are making counterfeit pills that look like legitimate prescription medications (like painkillers or ADHD medications) but actually contain fentanyl. The problem is massive and getting worse. According to the resolution, law enforcement seized over 9.5 million counterfeit pills in one year alone, and seizures have jumped by over 500 percent since 2019. What makes this especially dangerous is that just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal for someone without opioid tolerance, and the DEA found that 4 out of every 10 fentanyl pills they tested contained a potentially deadly dose.

The impact on real people is devastating. Over 105,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in a recent 12-month period, with 70,000 of those deaths involving illicit fentanyl. Young people are being hit particularly hard—overdose deaths for teenagers aged 14 to 18 jumped 94 percent in 2020, with fentanyl-involved deaths among that age group skyrocketing 169 percent. These fake pills are easy to find on social media and online platforms, making them accessible to teens who may not realize what they're taking.

By supporting this awareness day, Congress is essentially endorsing efforts to educate the public—especially young people and families—about the dangers of counterfeit pills and encouraging law enforcement and public health agencies to continue fighting this problem. It's a symbolic action that puts the spotlight on an urgent crisis, though the resolution itself doesn't create new funding, laws, or specific programs.

Supporting the mission and goals of National Fentanyl Awareness Day in 2022, including increasing individual and public awareness of the impact of fake or counterfeit fentanyl pills on families and young people.

Trone, David J.

 <p>This resolution supports the designation of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, including to bring attention to the presence of fentanyl in fake or counterfeit pills. (Fentanyl is a potent prescription opioid for treating severe pain that is also made and used illegally.)</p>