The Facts and Risks of Opioids
Opioids, a class of drug that includes prescription pain medicines such as oxycodone, illegal drugs such as heroin and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, have become a serious issue in Louisiana.
In 2022, 1,420 people died in Louisiana as a result of opioids, with 1,216 of those as a direct result of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. In 2018, there were 201 deaths from synthetic opioids, a 606% increase in just four years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing the United States.
This site connects you, or someone you know, to help needed to overcome Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), including local recovery resources, information on safe disposal and storage of drugs, and a guide to opioid alternatives.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Because of its strength, it has been used to increase the potency of other drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, often leading to deadly results.
Fentanyl cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. It only takes a very small dose of fentanyl, just 2 milligrams, to be lethal. That is equivalent to just 10 to 15 grains of table salt. Only a couple of specks of fentanyl can be deadly. Learn More
Opioids fall into the following five categories:
Explore how opioids are impacting our state and specifically your parish. The Louisiana Opioid Data and Surveillance System is an interactive system that allows you to look at trends, such as prescriptions, hospitalizations, treatments and deaths, over the past few years. Learn More