Empowering
Communities
Through
Education and
Prevention

When addiction touches a family, everyone feels the impact. Our new guide, developed with the National Council For Mental Wellbeing recognizes that families aren't just affected by substance use disorder (SUD),they're essential to recovery.

SUD is often called a family disease because it reaches far beyond the individual. It affects daily life, emotional health, roles and relationships. Families absorb the uncertainty, carry the fear and often feel powerless to stop what is unfolding. At the same time, families hold incredible potential for support, stability and change. That is why they are essential in prevention, in treatment and recovery, and in the long process of rebuilding. When families are informed, prepared and supported, they become a powerful force to change the course of addiction.

Across the United States, Americans are facing an alarming and evolving threat as fentanyl, the nation's deadliest synthetic opioid, infiltrates nearly every corner of the illicit drug market, including marijuana. While confirmed cases of fentanyl-laced cannabis are relatively limited and often result from cross-contamination rather than deliberate adulteration, the uncertainty surrounding this danger underscores a broader national crisis: an unpredictable drug supply, widespread misinformation, and a lack of reliable testing and reporting.

Families are left anxious and unprepared, unsure of what is safe or how to protect their loved ones. This guide, a collaboration between Facing Fentanyl and Achieve Greatness, was created to build awareness around the dangers of fentanyl-laced marijuana and to provide families with clear, evidence-based information. By bridging the gap between fear and fact, it empowers communities to recognize warning signs, engage in honest conversations, and take proactive steps to prevent tragedy in an era where one mistake can cost a life.

The One Pill Can Kill Campaign offers an opportunity for the media, parents, teachers, educators, and community organizations to raise awareness about counterfeit prescription drugs. DEA has created materials to help you participate in bringing awareness.