District Attorney Stephen Dwight has launched a fentanyl education and awareness program called One Life at a Time.

Interested in an education and awareness presentation regarding fentanyl? Contact bbryant@cpdao.org or call 337-437-3276 for more information. 

Fentanyl is taking the lives of our loved ones. In the last year, nearly 100 people have died of an overdose, and Fentanyl is to blame for the majority of those deaths. It's time to hold sellers and distributors accountable for murder. 

It's our hope that through Fentanyl education, and holding dealers accountable, we can save one life at a time. 

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use ad an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic.

Street Title

Apace, China Girl, China Town, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Jackpot, King Ivory, Murder 8, Poison and Tango & Cash.

How is it consumed?

Snorted/sniffed, smoked, orally by pill or tablet, spiked onto blotter paper, patches, sold alone or in combination with heroin and other substances, has been identified in fake pills, mimicking pharmaceutical drugs such as oxycodone.

What is the effect on the body?

Similar to other opioid analgesics, fentanyl produces effects such as relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, sedation, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, urinary retention, pupillary constriction, and respiratory depression.

Source: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

What makes Fentanyl different than other drugs?

2 mg of fentanyl is lethal. This is not a drug that you build up a tolerance for like you would heroin, cocaine, marijuana. This is a drug that can kill you with 2mg. One drug. One time. That’s all it takes is one time.

Why are non-addicts becoming victims of Fentanyl?

Dealers are going out of their way to make the Fentanyl laced drugs appear to be a legitimate pharmaceutical prescription drug. The DEA has stated that there are indications that drug traffickers are specifically targeting kids and teens by creating counterfeit pills in a variety of shapes and bright colors to appeal to that age group.

It’s very common for high school aged or college aged students to be prescribed Adderall due to the belief that their academic performance will benefit. Research has shown that there is a significant amount of students purchasing Adderall, or what they believe to be Adderall either on the dark web, or through social media. There is no quality control being done when you purchase a drug in this way. When someone is purchasing a drug in this way you’re taking a gamble because it could be laced with fentanyl, it could not be: you wont know until you ingest that pill. You will either live or die.

The best way to avoid taking counterfeit medication is to take only medications prescribed by a licensed medical professional and dispensed by a registered pharmacist.

How are Fentanyl dealers being prosecuted in Calcasieu Parish? 

If someone continues to deal a drug that they know for a fact can kill someone and is extremely lethal, then they should be prosecuted for second degree murder. The statue in Louisiana for second degree murder states the offender must have specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm. If dealers know they are selling a lethal drug, that is specific intent. 

What else can be done to combat Fentanyl in Calcasieu Parish?

We need more education on Fentanyl. We need parents, teachers, school counselors, coaches, etc., to have tough conversations with our youth and let them know how lethal this drug is. They need to know the reality of taking mysterious pills and how their lives are on the line when they do so.