DEA warns that One Pill Can Kill

JACKSON (TN) WNBJ-

The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a new warning about counterfeit prescription painkillers laced with potentially deadly amounts of fentanyl.

“fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid is fifty times more potent than heroin and two milligrams is considered lethal, which is small enough to fit on a tip of a pencil,” says Brett Pritts of the DEA.

Due to an increase in deaths caused by counterfeit pills containing this dangerous drug the DEAhas launched the One Pill Can Kill campaign.

“last year over 93,000 individuals died of drug overdoses,” says Sheriff John Mehr.

The DEA says that counterfeit drugs were the cause of many of these overdoses, “4 out of every 10 seized counterfeit pills contain a lethal dosage of fentanyl…these pills mimic the color, shape and markings of popular pharmaceutical drugs like oxycodone, Percocet, Vicodin, Xanax and Adderall,” says Pritts

The DEA warns that purchasing pills from anywhere besides a licensed pharmacy is not only illegal but dangerous and potentially deadly.

Sheriff John Mehr says that if you have information on any of these pills report it, “If you have information, report it to use. And let us know, 'Hey I know somebody that’s selling these illegal pills and they are all counterfeit.' Let’s save a life.”

Over nine and a half million counterfeit pills have already been seized this year more than 2019 and 2020 combined

“If a friend or relative offers you a pill don’t take it. If you don’t receive it from a pharmacy through your doctor don’t take it. You’re truly taking a huge risk and the consequences could be deadly.”