The fifth annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day takes place this year on April 29, 2026. Fentanyl Awareness Day is observed to help inform communities like ours about the dangers of illegally made fentanyl. Across all ages, almost all (89%) of fatal opioid overdoses have involved fentanyl since 2024 in the Fairfax Health District.
Illegal fentanyl is dangerous, but there are steps you can take to prevent overdoses. See the infographic below to get the facts on fentanyl and learn how to help prevent fentanyl overdoses in our community.
Fentanyl Facts
FAIRFAX COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Fentanyl Facts
Background: The flyer has a light blue background with dark blue and white text and icons.
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Top banner
[Alt text: Thin dotted line across the top with small Fairfax County Health Department seal in the upper right corner.]
Text at top:
“FAIRFAX COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT”
[Alt text: Large dark blue rounded rectangle with the word “FentanylFacts” inside; “Fentanyl” in solid white, “Facts” outlined in white.]
Text inside:
“Fentanyl Facts”
Main heading:
“LET’S KEEP MAKING PROGRESS IN THE FAIRFAX HEALTH DISTRICT”
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Progress statistics (top section)
First statistic, left:
[Alt text: Dark blue downward-pointing arrow with a small white hospital building icon inside and bold white text “16%” above the building.]
Text below arrow:
“Non-fatal opioid overdose emergency room visits decreased from 290 in 2024 to 244 in 2025.”
Second statistic, right:
[Alt text: Dark blue downward-pointing arrow with a small white hospital building icon inside and bold white text “47%”.]
Text below arrow:
“Non-fatal youth opioid overdose emergency room visits decreased from 17 in 2024 to 9 in 2025.”
Middle fentanyl‑related bar:
[Alt text: Rounded dotted outline in teal surrounding a dark blue pill‑shaped label that reads “FENTANYL-RELATED” in white.]
Inside this dotted shape are two statistics:
Left fentanyl statistic:
[Alt text: Dark blue downward‑angled arrow with a small line graph style showing decline and bold white text “27%”.]
Text to the right of this icon:
“Fatal opioid overdoses involving fentanyl decreased from 55 in 2024 to 40 in 2025.*”
Right fentanyl statistic:
[Alt text: Large bold dark blue number “89%”.]
Text to the right of this number:
“of fatal opioid overdoses have involved fentanyl since 2024.**”
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ILLEGAL FENTANYL IS DANGEROUS.
Subheading text:
“Fentanyl is a strong, lab-made opioid pain reliever.
There are two types of fentanyl: medical grade and illegally made fentanyl.”
Two side‑by‑side icons comparing types of fentanyl:
Left icon (medical fentanyl):
[Alt text: Teal circular icon with a white medical cross in the center.]
Text next to it:
“Medical fentanyl is prescribed by a doctor and can be given safely by health professionals.”
Right icon (illegally made fentanyl):
[Alt text: Teal circular icon with a white warning triangle containing a skull and crossbones.]
Text next to it:
“Illegally made fentanyl is dangerous because it is uncontrolled. The amount of fentanyl in each pill is different and could be fatal.”
Four bullet points in two columns underneath:
Left column bullets:
[Alt text: Small dark blue dot bullet.]
Text: “Illegal fentanyl is used to make counterfeit (fake) prescription pills and hidden in some drugs.”
[Alt text: Small dark blue dot bullet.]
Text: “It’s impossible to tell if a pill contains fentanyl by sight, smell, or taste.”
Right column bullets:
[Alt text: Small dark blue dot bullet.]
Text: “Assume any prescription pill you see online is fake, including Oxy, Percocet, Adderall, and Xanax.”
[Alt text: Small dark blue dot bullet.]
Text: “People who overdose often don’t know they are taking fentanyl.”
A light dotted line separates this section from the next.
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Section heading: YOU CAN PREVENT OVERDOSES.
First prevention item:
[Alt text: Teal checkmark icon.]
Text: “Only take pills you get from your pharmacist.”
Second prevention item:
[Alt text: Teal circular icon showing multiple different pill shapes overlapping, with a diagonal slash through the circle, indicating “do not mix drugs.”]
Text: “Mixing drugs together like fentanyl and cocaine is dangerous and may be fatal.”
Third prevention item:
[Alt text: Teal icon of two overlapping speech bubbles.]
Text:
“Get tips on how to talk to your teen about fentanyl.
fcps.edu/becomeunskippable”
Fourth prevention item:
[Alt text: Teal padlock icon with a keyhole.]
Text:
“Safely store medication in your home.
fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/prevention/lock-and-talk”
Fifth prevention item:
[Alt text: Teal computer monitor icon with a trash can on the screen.]
Text:
“Dispose of unused or expired medications.
fairfaxcounty.gov/health/drug-disposal”
Sixth prevention item:
[Alt text: Teal nasal spray bottle icon labeled to represent Naloxone (Narcan).]
Text:
“Take a training and receive free Naloxone (Narcan), a nasal spray that reverses fentanyl overdoses and saves lives.
fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/heroin-opioid/revive”
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Call‑to‑action bar
"Call or text 9-1-1 if a situation is immediately life-threatening.”
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Information and resources section (bottom)
Left side:
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Text:
“Learn more and find support resources:
fairfaxcounty.gov/topics/opioids”
Below that:
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Text:
“See more Fairfax Health District data:
fairfaxcounty.gov/health/opioid-overdoses-data”
Center:
[Alt text: Simple dark blue web link icon.]
Text:
“fairfaxcounty.gov/health”
Right side social media:
[Alt text: Dark blue Facebook logo (lowercase “f”) followed by text.]
Text: “fairfaxcountyhealth”
[Alt text: Dark blue X (formerly Twitter) logo and dark blue Instagram camera logo, side by side.]
Text: “fairfaxhealth”
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Sources section (small text at bottom)
Heading: “Sources”
Text below:
“cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html | fentanylawarenessday.org
Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE)
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), Virginia Department of Health
*Percent change is calculated using January–September 2024 and January–September 2025 OCME data.
**Preliminary data from OCME through September 2025, subject to change.”
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Bottom branding
[Alt text: Fairfax County Health Department logo with circular county seal and the words “Fairfax County Health Department”.]