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Boxing Position

FIGHTING FENTANYL

IN

 El Dorado County

ABOUT FENTANYL

ABOUT

“Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.”

View the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard:

Learn how to use fentanyl test strips:

40xs

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be:

stronger than heroin

100xs

stronger than morphine

you don’t always know what/how much fentanyl is in your pills/drugs.

Where do we see fentanyl?

  • Alone as a “crumbly” powder

  • Adulterated in heroin (very little heroin in EDC)

  • Illicit pills

  • Cocaine and methamphetamines – driving increase in stimulant overdose deaths

Fentanyl in El Dorado County...

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Two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl & illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) 

Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain. Most recent cases of fentanyl-related overdose are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. It's often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency. This makes it cheaper and more powerful, addictive, and dangerous.

Rainbow Fentanyl –fentanyl pills and powder comes in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes. (www.DEA.gov)

What is IMF?

  • Synthetic opioid

  • Not detected on most urine drug screens

  • Significant variation in type, potency & purity which increases risk of overdose

  • Repeated use leads to accumulation in adipose tissue –slowly leaves fat stores 

Street names for IMF include:

•Apache

•Dance Fever

•Friend

•Goodfellas

•Jackpot

•Murder 8

•Tango & Cash

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KEY TERMS + VOCABULARY

KEY TERMS

What is Stigma?

"A strong feeling of disapproval that most people in a society have about something, especially when this is unfair" 

Cambridge Dictionary

​

"An attribute, behavior, or reputation that is socially discrediting, and substance-related problems appear to be particularly susceptible to stigma." 

International Journal on Drug Policy

  • MORE than just Stereotyping 

    • Ideas and attitudes that generalize and label groups 

  • MORE than just Prejudice 

    • Endorsing and promoting harmful beliefs within stereotypes 

  • MORE than just Discrimination 

    • Practices and behaviors that promote inequity toward labeled groups

Stigma on 3 levels 

​

  1. Structural: laws, regulations, politics

    • EX: State health agency boards who make decisions, polices, and laws with no representation of individuals with lived experience 

  2. Public: attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of individuals and groups 

    • EX: Neighborhood perspectives regarding the presence of drug activity

  3. Self-Stigma: internalized negative stereotypes

    • EX: Believing that you’re not worth treatment

Stigma Impacts Recovery: 

  • Reduces willingness to seek professional support: 

    • Fear of being looked down upon, stereotyped, etc. 

  • Causes reluctance + aversion to attend treatment 

  • Limits access to healthcare, housing, aftercare, community support, + employment

Impacts on Stigmatized Populations:

  • Increase in adverse outcomes 

  • Diminished self-esteem 

  • Affects personal relationships at a time they are needed the most

  • Increases involvement in risky behaviors

What is Harm Reduction?

"Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use. Harm Reduction is also a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs."

-National Harm Reduction Coalition 

Examples of Harm Reduction:

​

  • Overdose Prevention

  • Syringe exchange

  • Disease testing

  • Disposal containers

  • NARCAN/Naloxone training

  • Referral to treatment + resources 

Check out the local Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition in EDC:

​Some Principles of Harm Reduction:

 

1. Accepts, for better or worse, that licit and illicit drug use is part of our world and chooses to work to minimize its harmful effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them

​2. Calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to people who use drugs and the communities in which they live in order to assist them in reducing attendant harm​

​3. Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, sex-based discrimination, and other social inequalities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with drug-related harm​

​4. Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real and tragic harm and danger that can be associated with illicit drug use

YOUR RIGHTS

THE GOOD SAMARITAN
LAW

California’s 911 Good Samaritan Law provides limited protection from arrest, charge and prosecution for people who seek emergency medical assistance at the scene of a suspected drug overdose.

Read the Good Samaritan Law on the California Legislature's website here: 

Code: HSC | Section: 1799.102.

When calling 911 services, say:

​

**Give Location**

​

"We have a person down. They are not breathing. Suspect an overdose."​

 

This will activate the Good Samaritan Law​ and your protections

​Do NOT interfere with first responders.

Step Back.

You will be risking your Good Samaritan Law protections otherwise

​Witnesses are protected even if they...

 

  • Are under the influence of drugs 

  • In possession of small amounts of drugs 

  • In possession of drug paraphernalia 

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE OVERDOSES

(on opioids)

WHAT TO DO

STEP ONE: Assess + Stimulate 

  1.  Assess yourself and the situation:

    1.  Are you able to assist at the moment?

    2.  Is it safe for you to assist? â€‹â€‹

  2. Stimulate:

    1.  VERBAL: YELL. Explain what you're doing before doing it.

      1.  Ex: "Hey! Are you okay? Can you show me how you're doing?

    2.  PHYSICAL: Arm pinch, sternum rub, etc. 

 

 STEP TWO: Calling 911

  1.  Give minimal information: 

    1.  Location ​

    2.  Say "We have a person down. They are not breathing. Suspect an overdose."​

      1.  This will ACTIVATE the Good Samaritan Law​

      2.  Do NOT interfere with first responders, step back. You will be risking your Good Samaritan Law protections otherwise

  2.  If you're by yourself:​

    1.  Call 911 

    2.  Retrieve and Administer NARCAN/Naloxone

    3. Preform RESUCE BREATHING

  3.  If you're in a group:

    1.  Delegate roles​

    2. Point to someone and say "Call 9ll"

    3. YELL out "Does anyone have NARCAN/Naloxone?"​

      1. Retrieve and Administer NARCAN/Naloxone

    4. Preform RESCUE BREATHING

 

 STEP THREE: Administering NARCAN/Naloxone

  1.  Nasal NARCAN Tip:​

    1.  Do NOT test (one dose per bottle)​

    2.  3-5 minutes to work 

  2. Intramuscular Naloxone Tip:​

    1.  Draw ALL fluid into the needle​

    2.  Inject needle straight into the upper side of the arm or middle side of the thigh (do not inject into the butt)

  3. Administer a 2nd dose of NARCAN/Naloxone if...

    • The person is not awake in 2.5-3 minutes ​

    • If the person stops breathing again 

 

STEP FOUR: Put the person in the Recovery Position​

  1.  Lay them on their side with the bottom arm extended out, the top arm under the head, and the top knee supporting them on their side​

 

 STEP FIVE: Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives

  1.  If you must leave, leave the person in THE RECOVERY POSITION 

How to administer NARCAN/
Naloxone... 
  1. Remove NARCAN/Naloxone spray from the box
  2. Peel Back the tab with the circle to open 
  3. Place your thumb on the bottom and your middle/index fingers on either side of the top
  4. Tilt the persons head back and support behind the neck with your hand 
  5. Insert entirely into the nostril and press plunger to administer the full dose

Fentanyl is not Narcan resistant...
it just might take a little more Narcan

Watch a YouTube video...

How to preform Rescue Breathing... 
  1. Place face shield **optional**
  2. Tilt head back, lift chin, & pinch nose
  3. Give one breath into the mouth every 5 seconds 
  4. Administer a second dose of NARCAN if:
    • If there is no breathing after 2-3 minutes
    • If the person stops breathing again
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Substance Use Disorder (SUD) And Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Services

in El Dorado County

​

SERVICES

NARCAN/Naloxone FREE

In El Dorado County

Definition of  NARCAN / Naloxone:    Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. The medication can be given into the nose, into the muscle, under the skin, or via intravenous injection.

El Dorado County naloxone Distribution Sites

El Dorado County has established Narcan distribution sites to combat opioid overdoses. These sites provide easy access to Narcan (naloxone), a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. The initiative aims to reduce overdose deaths and increase community awareness about opioid use.

 

For more detailed information and to download resources, please visit the provided link.

Campaign Wallet Cards

**for best at home printing, print from web browser**

Wallet cards

Campaign Social Media Sets

Additional Graphics

GLOSSARY + CITATIONS
Download here
 

Glossary

CAMPAIGN PARTNERS

Campaign partners
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This campaign was funded (in part) by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), supported by Grant Number 6NU17 CE002747 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDPH, or the El Dorado Coalition for Prevention & Education.

 Facts Fighting Fentanyl Website

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