Take the steps to protect you and your loved ones from fentanyl:
- Do not take pills that are not provided by a doctor or pharmacist.
- Be cautious of pills offered to you and assume they are fake. You cannot smell or taste fentanyl contamination.
- Pills purchased on social media and websites may not be safe.
- Fentanyl concentration can vary widely. Do not assume if one pill is safe, the others in the same batch will be too.
- Never use illegal pills while you are alone.
- If you or a loved one may be at risk of an overdose, have naloxone accessible and know how to use it.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 for help.
How do I get Naloxone?
Naloxone, often known by its brand name, Narcan, is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications. It can quickly reverse an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids, restoring normal breathing within 2 to 3 minutes in a person whose breath has slowed, or even stopped, as a result of opioid overdose. More than one dose of naloxone may be required when stronger opioids like fentanyl are involved.
Calling 911 should be your first course of action if you suspect that someone is experiencing an overdose. A person may become unconscious or stop breathing even after being revived by naloxone.
Naloxone won’t harm someone if they’re overdosing on drugs other than opioids. If you give someone naloxone, stay with them until emergency help arrives or for at least four hours to make sure their breathing returns to normal. The effects are temporary, and it may take five or more minutes for the medication to reverse an overdose. However, if a person is still unresponsive or suffering other warning signs, you can administer a second dose of the medication within 2 to 3 minutes if emergency responders have not yet arrived.
The Mississippi Medical Emergency Good Samaritan Act offers protections to those who, in good faith, seek medical assistance, including calling 911, for a person experiencing an overdose. It applies even if the caller is under the influence of a controlled substance or in possession of a controlled substance. §41-29-149.1 Miss. Code Ann.
Naloxone is available without a prescription and you can request it from your local pharmacy. In addition, the Mississippi State Department of Health can mail a kit to your home for free. Click here to fill out the request form.
Watch this video for a demonstration of how to administer naloxone.
How do I get Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits?
The Office of the Attorney General has created Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kits to provide Mississippians with the practical supplies and information that can help reduce the risk of fentanyl exposure and
prevent accidental overdose. Each kit contains:
- 2 fentanyl test strips - small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs and drug forms. You can learn more about
how to use fentanyl test strips here.
- 1 drug disposal bag – small bags that you can use to deactivate unused or expired drugs. Directions for use are on the bag.
- 2 vinyl gloves. Their use is paramount in minimizing the risk of skin contact with potentially lethal substances like fentanyl, which can be absorbed through the skin.
- Educational materials, including a pill identification card – click here to see and download the card.
Through the One Pill Can Kill initiative, we are distributing these bags throughout the State. If you would like a kit or your group would like some to distribute, please contact us at onepill@ago.ms.gov.
How Do I Get Emergency Overdose Boxes?
To learn more or to request an Emergency Overdose Boxes email at onepill@ago.ms.gov.
How can I dispose of unused or expired drugs?
Medicine cabinets across Mississippi are full of unused or expired drugs, and too often, those are the pills that end up in the wrong hands. There are many opportunities for you to dispose safely and easily of these drugs throughout the year.
Shred+Med+Device Disposal Days:
Shred+Med+Device Disposal Days are community events where you can safely and easily dispose of documents that may include personal information to protect your identity. They also provide you a safe and easy way to dispose of expired or unused opioids and other medicines to keep them from falling into the wrong hands. We have also added electronics disposal, so you can safely and easily dispose of your computers, phones, and other hardware that may contain sensitive information that could be used by scammers. Please add these to your calendar and join us when we are near you.
Drug Take Back Days: Twice a year, in April and October, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts Drug Take Back Days. These are another opportunity for you to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths by safely disposing of unused prescription drugs. The next one is Saturday, October 26, 2024. Click here for a collection location near you.
Year-Round Disposal Sites: The DEA also keeps a list of locations available for safely disposing of these medications year-round. You can find one near you here.
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics also keeps drop boxes at certain drivers’ license offices. Click here for that list.
We all have the power to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands. Keep them safe. Clean them out. Take them back.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 for help.
We partnered with HarborPath and some remarkable Ole Miss student-athletes to share the message about the dangers of fentanyl and how everyone has the power to save lives.
“Counterfeit pills are easily available – even to adolescents – through social media and other apps, and they are increasingly common throughout Mississippi. They can be intentionally contaminated with extremely potent fentanyl. There are no second chances with fake pills that are polluted. One pill is all it takes to kill, and we have lost too many of our loved ones. Let’s beat this fentanyl crisis together, Mississippi.”
– Attorney General Lynn Fitch
