August 21 marks Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day in DeSoto County, as the Florida Department of Health reminds residents about the dangers of the drug.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It can be found in street drugs such as heroin and cocaine, as well as counterfeit versions of prescription drugs such as Percocet, Xanax, and Adderall.

Users may not know they are taking fentanyl, which can lead to deadly consequences.

Assume any drug or medication you did not get directly from a pharmacy may contain fentanyl. People should learn the signs of overdose and carry naloxone, or Narcan, which can reverse an overdose.

The Florida Department of Health in DeSoto County further offers these guidelines:

How to Prevent an Overd

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