Attorney General Miyares has launched a new public awareness initiative called “One Pill Can Kill” aimed at reducing opioid deaths, educating Virginians on the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs, and providing community resources. Speaking about the campaign, Attorney General Miyares stated, “The opioid epidemic has impacted every corner of the Commonwealth. It’s through education, prevention, and accessible resources that Virginians can fight back against the threat opioids and fake prescription pills present to us and to our loved ones. One Pill Can Kill is the product of federal and state programs working together to combat the fentanyl and opioid crisis facing our country. It will encourage open, honest conversations amongst families to ensure the health, safety, and prosperity of all Virginians.”
The campaign will include a website with resources for Virginians, statewide billboards, and cable, broadcast, and digital/social media efforts. It is expected to run through October 2024. Additionally, the initiative will be disseminated alongside the “It Only Takes One” campaign, focusing on the opioid crisis in Roanoke, Virginia, led by First Lady of Virginia Suzanne S. Youngkin, with the support of Attorney General Miyares.
Fake prescription pills containing lethal substances like fentanyl pose a significant threat to public health in Virginia. According to officials from the Drug Enforcement Agency, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of fake pills containing potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. In 2023, the DEA seized a record 74.5 million fentanyl pills, indicating a concerning increase in the distribution of these dangerous substances.
In 2022, an estimated 1,967 people died from overdoses of fentanyl or other synthetic opioids in Virginia. Fentanyl, the synthetic opioid most commonly found in fake pills, is the primary driver behind this alarming increase in poisoning deaths. The One Pill Can Kill campaign aims to address this issue and raise awareness about the dangers of these substances.
To learn more about the campaign, individuals can visit the website at onepillcankillva.org. The Attorney General’s Office provided contact information for various services related to consumer protection, victim notification, civil rights, and reporting fraud.