Students across the Midwest are returning to school and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division is reminding families to make time for honest discussions about the dangers associated with the experimentation and use of drugs.
Fentanyl seizures across the five state DEA Omaha Division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, continue to rise as pills and powder make their way into the country, “—and certainly schools are not exempt from that,” said Public Information Officer Emily Murray. In 2022, investigators across the DEA Omaha Division removed more than 170,000 fake fentanyl pills from circulation.
Fentanyl comes in every shape and color and oftentimes is made to look like legitimate prescription medications including Oxycodone, Xanax and Adderall.
“We know it’s so hard to have these conversations, and sometimes it’s hard just to start the conversation with their student, their child, their family member…but keep that dialogue going. Start the conversation when kids are young so that as they grow up, they feel comfortable going to you and talking to you about things that are coming into their life,” said Murray.
For more information on fentanyl and other drugs, or for guidance on how to start a conversation with friends and family on the dangers of drug use, visit dea.gov or JustThinkTwice.gov.