PHOENIX (April 29, 2025) – The two Arizona poison centers joined centers nationwide on Tuesday in marking the fourth annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day, an observance founded by parents who have tragically lost loved ones to the overdose crisis.
This initiative, supported by corporations, non-profits, schools, families and elected officials aims to elevate the dialogue around illicit fentanyl use and mobilize unified action.
Such awareness is a factor in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing a decrease in drug fatalities. But the discussion needs to continue, said Bryan Kuhn, PharmD, pharmacist and clinical toxicologist at the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center in Phoenix
“Despite provisional reports by the CDC demonstrating a reduction in overdose deaths in 2023-2024, fentanyl remains the most common opioid resulting in overdose mortality,” Dr. Kuhn said. “The sustained messaging over the past several years, coupled with increased access to reversal agents like naloxone and treatment options like methadone and Suboxone® has had a strong effect in reducing overdose mortality, but it remains critically important we don’t lose this momentum.”
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even trace amounts can be deadly. Illicit fentanyl is frequently mixed into heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine or pressed into counterfeit pills designed to resemble legitimate prescription medication. These practices dramatically increase the risk for unsuspecting users and continue to drive the majority of overdose fatalities in the United States.
CDC Continues Robust Efforts to Address Overdose Crisis
- The Stop Overdose campaigns offer free shareable resources to educate and protect the public from overdoses involving fentanyl. Resources include videos, factsheets and social media content — emphasizing preventable measures such as carrying naloxone, a lifesaving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
- The Overdose Data to Action program strengthens U.S. overdose surveillance and provides both fatal (SUDORS) and nonfatal (DOSE) data systems. Continued investments leverage real time data to create interventions at the community level. Currently, 90 health departments receive funding to collect, improve and immediately use the data in their communities to provide risk reduction services and link people to the care they need.
The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in Tucson and Banner poison control in Phoenix jointly operate the Opioid Assistance and Referral Hotline, which provides free, confidential opioid overdose, treatment and recovery information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
If you believe there has been exposure to any poison, medication or chemical please call the poison center immediately at 800-222-1222. The poison centers can assist in the evaluation and management and help determine if it is necessary to seek additional medical attention.
Call 800-222-1222 or 602-253-3334 (Phoenix area) with questions regarding this or any other poison, drug or chemical exposure.
For further information contact us at: [email protected]