Fentanyl is creating a crisis all over the country and it's killing our kids.

For decades, the message has been "Say NO to drugs." But today, the risks of overdose and death are so much greater with easy access to drugs through social media and the absolute flood of fentanyl into our country. Daily headlines tell the story of our kids dying from this deadly drug.

It is time to start talking directly to our youth about these dangers.

This crisis is affecting all income levels, races, ethnicities, and genders. It's not just "those troubled kids" - athletes, straight A students, band and drama kids are dying too often, as well as kids as young as middle schoolers right here in Southern Nevada. Someone who thought they were simply experimenting by taking an everyday prescription pill may unknowingly end up taking something laced with a lethal amount of fentanyl.

It's time to learn the facts about fentanyl - before it's too late. Take the time to read below and explore our additional resources. Learn the dangers. And share the message.

Learn the Dangers

We have created Don'tRiskItAllWithFentanyl.com specifically to reach our kids.

• From January 2018 to July 2022, an estimated 1,412 opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in Clark County, and 653 (46 percent) died from fentanyl (Southern Nevada Health District Public Health Advisory, Oct. 2022).
• We are seeing more and more deaths among young people each year. And unlike most opiates, fentanyl can be lethal with the first use. It only takes a two-milligram dose, similar to 5-7 grains of salt, to cause death for an average size adult.
• It's not just street drugs that are being laced with fentanyl - even fake, everyday medications like Tylenol and Ritalin are being made with fentanyl and sold via social media.
• You can't tell the difference between a real pill or a lethal one. Fentanyl doesn't change the smell, taste, or texture - so you have no idea it is there. You should only take medication that comes directly from a pharmacy or medication you purchased at a retail store.
• Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine - and it has a stronger hook, making it way more addictive.
• Drugs sold on social media are very likely to be laced, and these platforms are where the dealers are luring our kids.

We know young people today are going to experiment, just as their parents did before them. The problem is, the danger of this drug makes just one choice potentially lethal.

Together, we can save lives!

Since the first Fentanyl Awareness Summit in 2023, the City of Henderson hosted 31 community outreach events, including train-the-trainer presentations for nearly 300 student leaders. The City continues to collaborate with local and peer leaders at high schools, college campuses and various youth leadership programs. 

---

2025 Fentanyl Summit

The City of Henderson and regional leaders hosted the second Fentanyl Awareness Summit on February 12 at the World Market Center.

More than 200 professionals were in attendance as national, state and regional leaders came together to update community stakeholders on progress made to reduce youth overdoses, share updates on drug trends, and discuss opportunities to intervene through the criminal justice system to treat opioid use disorder. 

Since the first Fentanyl Awareness Summit in 2023, law enforcement seizures of fentanyl are at an all-time high as the volume of fentanyl flooding the country continues to grow.   

Although fatal opioid overdoses are down nationally, Southern Nevada rates remain high, along with an increase in non-fatal overdoses. This leads to concerns about irreversible brain damage, and long-term physical health impacts. We heard about these impacts from Dr. David Hart, an emergency physician at Mountainview Hospital, who shared that long term opioid users are 18 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, demonstrating a link between opioid use disorder and depression or other mental health concerns.  

This year’s summit focused on addressing increased supply, hearing from Keith Carter, the Director of the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, who talked about fentanyl being readily available on the street, both in pill and powder form.  

Another key focus throughout the day was the need to treat substance use as a community safety and a public health issue, and the importance of collaboration between our criminal justice and mental health systems. Medical professionals identified humane and effective treatment approaches; and experts talked about the importance of restructuring behavioral health services through the criminal justice system. Retired Judge Steve Leifman from Miami Dade County shared his experience, noting that we need to build better systems for people with behavioral health illnesses, which requires collaboration.  

Great progress has been made in reducing youth overdoses thanks to local and national efforts, and the importance of peer-to-peer prevention for our youth was highlighted by area high school and college students who have actively been warning peers of the dangers of fentanyl in their school communities. Additionally, the City of Henderson rebranded its awareness campaign to “Don’t Risk it All” based on youth feedback and provided social media options that highlighted the positive reasons to stay away from drugs, especially the dangers of illicit fentanyl in the market.  

Partnering agencies include Clark County Bar Association, District Attorney’s Office, City of Henderson, City of Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, City of Boulder City, DHHS, Clark County, LVMPD, NLVPD, HPD, HIDTA, and the PACT Coalition.

Thank you to everyone who participated!

View Summit and Speaker Presentations

Share Your Story

There is a power and healing in sharing our stories. If you would like to add your experience, photos, or memories, please visit Don'tRiskItAllWithFentanyl.com.

---

Additional Information