Join Us for National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day™ — August 21

August 21 marks the fifth annual National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day™, established by FACING FENTANYL™ and families affected by overdoses involving illegally made fentanyl. This observance is a time to remember lives lost, support families and communities affected by overdose, and take action to help prevent future loss.

This year's theme, The Power of the Parent, focuses on education, prevention, and empowering parents, caregivers, families, and communities to protect young people. From 2020–2024, 75% of overdose deaths among youth ages 10–19 involved illegally made fentanyl. At the same time, many teens do not know that counterfeit pills can contain fentanyl. These facts underscore the urgent need for trusted adults to start early, honest, and ongoing conversations with young people.

Parents and caregivers do not need the perfect words to make a difference. A conversation about medication safety, counterfeit pills, substance use, mental health, peer pressure, and how to ask for help can build trust and reduce risk. It is never too early to talk with kids and teens about safety. For younger children, that can mean simple messages like only taking medicine from a trusted adult. For teens and young adults, that means talking directly about counterfeit pills, illegally made fentanyl, naloxone, and what to do if a friend may be in danger.

Counterfeit pills can look like legitimate prescription medications, but they may contain illegally made fentanyl. You cannot tell by looking, tasting, or smelling whether a pill or other drug contains fentanyl. Even one pill can be deadly.

We invite you to join CDC and partners nationwide in amplifying National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day™ messages. Your organization can help by sharing trusted information, encouraging conversations between young people and trusted adults, promoting naloxone awareness, and connecting families and communities to prevention resources.