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By Shivani Ramanathan
There are many ways a pill can transform into something that is poisonous to your health, from an “abortion pill” to illegal fentanyl.
It can be difficult to differentiate real prescription pills and those containing fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
Colorful pills are stamped and crafted to look like real prescriptions, and the difficulty of not being able to tell the difference causes hundreds of overdoses every year – with many being fatal.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), synthetic opioids like fentanyl are present in almost 70% of overdose deaths nationwide, and the number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses continue to rise.
In 2023, Alameda County saw 301 overdose deaths, a 61% increase compared to 2022.
Over 75% of teen overdose victims’ lives in the county are caused by fentanyl – a whopping 300% increase in fentanyl deaths for teens ages 15-19 from 2021.
Individuals – neighbors, best friends, teachers, classmates and family members— have died due to the overdose of counterfeit pills.
With the risks associated with potential counterfeit pills, one has to question why people turn to them.
Many Americans use over-the-counter or non-prescribed pills to avoid the doctor because of embarrassment, the desire for fast relief, dependence or addiction to opioids, and especially cost.
A prime example is from a recent national survey from Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), where 23% of U.S. adults in the past 12 months “took an over-the-counter drug instead of getting a prescription filled because of cost concerns.”
Others experiment to cope with anxiety, depression, or stress. Opioids and counterfeit benzodiazepines tap into the brain’s reward system, briefly easing emotional and physical pain. If so many people are turning to pills just to feel okay, support systems, from mental health care to affordable housing, are not meeting real needs.
Past drug policies have focused on substances like heroin and cocaine, but pills in disguise of potent synthetics have always been hidden. Even with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) program’s famous program, “One Pill Can Kill”, the awareness about the issue is not apparent.
Counterfeit pills are easy to sell, purchase, and exchange — which is why they’re so hard to control. Instead of only being around the local streets, they often appear on social media, apps, school campuses, and other networks between friends or co-workers. A teenager can buy what looks like a pill to stay alert to study with simply a few text messages from a random stranger, not knowing the origin or contents of the pill.
“Dealers” are able to easily copy the logos, colors, and shapes of over-the-counter medicine so people cannot tell the difference. Many might assume it is “just one pill,” not knowing the exceptional danger and addiction and overdose.
Tools need to be implemented into our county, into every school, every campus to make sure that students are safe and protected. Tools like naloxone, fentanyl test trips, and education on counterfeit pills are prerequisites toward fixing this issue.
People should not have to risk their entire life simply because they are in financial or mental pain and need easy access. To enact this, Alameda County needs more than flyers or infographics, they need to implement tools. California Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) has a program where naloxone, a spray to counter overdoses, and fentanyl test strips are distributed with no cost.
Many schools in Alameda County are participating in this program or the Alameda County Overdose Prevention and Education Naloxone Distribution (OPEND) Project.
In addition to test strips and naloxone, staff and students at local school campuses are being trained to treat overdoses.
Communities need clear information about counterfeit pills, easily accessible treatment and counseling, and a culture that treats overdose as a health issue, not a moral failing. Only when people feel safe seeking help, and when safer options are truly available, will a small pill stop taking so many lives.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
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