DEA marks National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

FOX23 Sales Team

ST. LOUIS (KBSI) — The Drug Enforcement Administration is joining organizations nationwide Friday to recognize National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day and remember those who have died from fentanyl poisoning.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the observance and carries the theme “Power of the Parent,” highlighting the role parents and families can play in educating loved ones about the dangers of fentanyl.

According to the DEA, more than 1,000 people died from synthetic drugs, including fentanyl, across the agency’s St. Louis Field Division in 2025.

“We shouldn’t assume that our friends and family know the risks and deadly consequences of fentanyl,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer said.

The DEA said fentanyl-related deaths have declined in recent years, but the synthetic opioid continues to pose a significant threat. Fentanyl is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the agency.

The DEA is encouraging families to discuss the risks associated with fentanyl and share information about prevention as part of Friday’s national observance.