Fentanyl overdoses are making headlines across the country, and there are valid reasons for this concern. Many people remain unaware of how this crisis can impact them, often believing it only affects those in the drug-seeking community. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The sad truth is that regular individuals are increasingly coming into contact with this dangerous drug. It is crucial to understand the risks and signs of a fentanyl overdose.

The Sad Facts of a Fentanyl Overdose

So you are at a coffee shop having coffee and looking around when, all of a sudden, boom, a middle-aged woman falls to the ground. 

Okay, reader, I’m going to flip this around to you.

Question/thought number one:

What do you do? Do you need to call 911?   Am I confident in my knowledge and skillsets if first aid is necessary?  

Question/thought number two: 

Is it a drug overdose? If so, what do I do?

Okay, let’s look at solutions.

This article will help with question number two.

In the last ten-plus years, drug overdoses have become a much more common issue, so common it almost becomes the first question. Many questions go with these questions. The bottom line is, can you answer them and supply healthy life-saving solutions? 

I am hitting you with hard truths.

I need to give you a little bit of a reality check, the reader, as it was a reality check for me. Many times, we look at those who are having hard times. Men and women who made poor choices due to drug/opioid/alcohol addictions are now in these dire situations. Full transparency: as someone who has dealt with addiction to alcohol, I’m a little more empathetic to their plight. 

The purpose of this article is to shine some light on an epidemic (yikes, I know, not that freaking word again)   On the harsh and painful realities of Fentanyl. Here’s the reality check: fentanyl overdose doesn’t just happen to those who are ingesting that product. Overdosing on Fentanyl happens to people who have never touched the drug in their life. How does that happen?? Let me share it with you here on some of the ways that people are having drug overdoses … You can get it by touching? Can it be in food? Can it be on products? Many of the drugs being used now are laced with Fentanyl.

Numbers, well, the so-called numbers of deaths from Fentanyl 

The estimated number of deaths due to the synthetic opioids Fentanyl in 2023 was 74,702. ( as you read on, you’ll get far more haunting and factual information about these numbers ) Let’s be completely honest here: those numbers are not even close to the day-to-day, yearly, real-life, real-world numbers that are happening. 

However, that being said, it gives us a shocking idea of how serious this is, a tiny tip of the iceberg. I’m going to use the E word. People bear with me, epidemic. Yes, it impacted me, even saying and writing that it is impacting our United States of America. This product is one that I don’t even know how the agencies in charge and the front-line workers dealing with this horrendous situation are going to find a healthy or positive 100% answer for it. 

It’s time to get some expert opinions and guidance.

Shout out to Brock Beville of fentanyl project AZ, ( fentanylprojectaz)

Check them out for all the assistance and education on this subject. He’s doing good things, saving many lives.

I asked Brock for some insight. Below are some of our conversations.

Here’s some background on this life-changing phenomenon of human beings.

Brock Bevell, owner of Fentanyl Project AZ & Victory Recovery AZ

Brock is a Retired LEO, a Recovering drug addict who’s 14 years clean (yes, it’s okay to clap loud and hard for this accomplishment). Brock’s faith has gotten him through these last 10 years and is the backbone of how and why he does what he does. 

One of the ways that he shows his faith is in action, and in that action, he created the fentanyl project Az. Brock dedicates two hours of his day with his own money to help educate and show love to those going through addiction. His goal is to elevate them from where they’re at. Brock is a Hope dealer (a perfect description). Is that not the coolest thing ever?

This man is on the front lines, day in and day out, helping support the men and women of Mesa, Arizona, who are in active recovery or are going through their addiction. He supplies clothing, Narcan, and tools to help them get through their addiction and into recovery. I chose him to ask these questions as I know him personally, and I’ve seen him work tirelessly to combat this massive epidemic.

My Three Questions on Fentanyl Overdose

One- how do I use Narcan?

Here’s a step-by-step plan for administering Narcan.

Ask the person if they are okay, and ask what their name is.

Shake shoulders, gently move them.

They Will not wake up or respond to your voice or touch.

Give NARCAN Nasal Spray(Peel back the tab with the circle to open the NARCAN Nasal Spray.)

Hold the NARCAN nasal spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle.

Gently insert the tip of the nozzle into either nostril.

Press the plunger firmly to give the dose of NARCAN Nasal Spray.

Call 911

Wait a few minutes. If they don’t respond, repeat! 

Stay with them until the EMT arrives 

To quote Brock

“Super easy. Are you breathing!!! Nope, hit them with it.”

Two- what’s one piece of advice we can give kids?

Find the right people to hang around, and look at your five top friends. Who are you hanging out with if those five friends are good and blessing? You hang out with those kids. If you look around and you’re the smartest guy in the room, leave that room; you’re in the wrong room. Brock believes we make decisions based on the people we hang out with. The right dudes or women elevate your soul, who make you a better person, who make you strive to be a better person and hang out with them and learn from them and to quote him, still love Jesus, amen, brother. 

What are the actual OD-ing numbers?

– Regarding some of the numbers that you’re seeing regarding people who have died from Fentanyl, be mindful of the fact that some of the numbers are kids or people who went to buy a certain narcotic and didn’t know it was laced with Fentanyl. This is a common situation that is growing and growing and growing. Where you think you’re ingesting one thing, but you’re really ingesting something laced with Fentanyl. 

No matter how you slice it. It’s terrifying, and knowing what to do in these scenarios is a part of our everyday life. Yes, you, who doesn’t know how to save lives, are not a paramedic; you’re not an EMT. You and I, my friend, need to understand how to  Deploy Narcan and or look at what the signs are or what is happening if it’s a possible Fentanyl overdose. No matter what, it all starts dialing 911, and then you go from there.

Here’s what we know: the numbers are misconstrued. The numbers we get are based on emergency services, which means either police fire or going to a scene. They have “Narcanned” individuals, and those individuals come back to life or die.

Here’s what they’re not seeing: the hundreds of homeless people saving their best friend, their friend who they’ve been using for a year to date. Brock’s  Fentanylprojectaz organization has saved 40 souls (that means a returning report of giving someone Narcan and then coming back and saying, “That Narcan you gave me last time saved my buddy’s life.” that’s what we call a tick or a save. They have given out thousands and thousands upon thousands of canisters of Narcan. The numbers are astronomical right here in Arizona alone. 

In closing 

I understand just how heavy and, let’s call it what it is, depressing: the numbers and the facts ( the numbers we are seeing or being told about are probably a quarter of what’s real .) regarding this incredible fentanyl epidemic that the United States of America is going through. However, denial and burying our heads in the sand does not help; it only worsens it.

If you take only one thing from this article, I hope you will improve your education, learn how to assist people with Narcan and grow in compassion and empathy. We don’t know what anybody’s going through or the reason for their situation. 

Let’s help our fellow human beings, fellow Americans, in whatever way we can to help change the number of fentanyl overdoses.