Understanding Opioids
and the Risks of Misuse
Opioids are a class of drugs that include powerful prescription pain relievers such as OxyContin® and Vicodin®, as well as heroin and fentanyl. Even when taken as prescribed, long-term opioid use can lead to dependence, and misuse may result in fatal overdoses.
Warning Signs of Opioid Addiction
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Intense cravings for opioids
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Inability to control or reduce use
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Increased tolerance
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Withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped
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Difficulty meeting work, school, or social responsibilities
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Legal trouble related to substance use
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Spending significant time obtaining or using opioids
(Source: DrugFreeCT.org)
80% of Bolton students (grades 6-12) think prescription drug use is harmful. In fact, only 2% of Bolton teens admit to misusing prescription drugs. Among those who misuse, 75% obtain them from family or friends' houses.
Prescription Drug Misuse & Fentanyl Dangers
Prescription Drug Misuse
Misusing prescription drugs means taking medication that isn’t prescribed to you or using it in higher doses or more frequently than directed. Prescription drugs are only safe when taken as prescribed.
80% of Bolton students (grades 6-12) think prescription drug use is harmful. In fact, only 2% of Bolton teens admit to misusing prescription drugs. Among those who misuse, 75% obtain them from family or friends' houses
Fentanyl: The Leading Cause of Overdose Deaths
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the leading cause of overdose deaths in Connecticut and the U.S. In 2021, it was responsible for more deaths than gun violence and car accidents combined. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is frequently mixed into substances like cocaine and pressed into counterfeit pills resembling Xanax, OxyContin, and Adderall. Increasingly, Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, is being mixed into fake pills. This is particularly dangerous because it is not an opioid which means it doesn’t respond to naloxone, the overdose reversal drug.
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As of 2024 5 out of 10 counterfeit pills tested for fentanyl contained a potentially lethal dose.
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77% of overdose deaths in Connecticut in 2024 were linked to fentanyl.
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342 deaths (34.7%) in 2024 involved both xylazine and fentanyl.
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In 2024 overdose rates were highest among individuals aged 35-64
Fentanyl is deadly in doses as small as 2mg—smaller than a pencil tip. Learn more about counterfeit pills and how to protect your family at YouThinkYouKnowCT.org.
Recognizing & Responding to an Overdose
What to Do
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Call 911 immediately.
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Administer naloxone (Narcan).
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Support the person’s breathing.
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Stay with them until help arrives.
(Will include a graphic with these steps.) -
Signs of an Overdose
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Constricted pupils
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Unresponsiveness or limp body
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Awake but unable to speak
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Slow, erratic, or no breathing
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Slow, erratic, or no pulse
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Pale, gray, or blue skin (especially around lips or fingernails)
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Deep, slow snoring, choking, or gurgling sounds
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Vomiting
(Source: DrugFreeCT.org)
For more information, visit YouThinkYouKnowCT.org.
