Feds launch Fentanyl Free America initiative to fight country’s most dangerous drug

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - The use and deaths related to fentanyl appear to be dropping, but there’s still plenty of it and far too many deaths. Now, a new push to stop it for good comes home.

The Drug Enforcement Agency calls it the Fentanyl Free America initiative. We can’t do much in our homes to stop cartels from pushing the drugs, but we can control some of who consumes them.

Whether in a colorful rainbow form or a pill that actually looks like something you’d normally take, fentanyl continues to be abundant and deadly. It’s being called the most dangerous drug that the country has ever seen.

“It’s an all-in approach and we have to save Americans’ lives,” said Joseph Dixon, special agent in charge for the DEA.

The DEA in our region and across the United States is starting the Fentanyl Free America initiative. Law enforcement will try to stop things like suppliers and smugglers.

“We’re seeing that drug dealers, who are very smart by the way, who run major corporations, they’re now just looking at different supply chains and different routes,” said Dixon.

While they’re asking people at home not to buy medication and pills online. You very well may get fentanyl instead and even a small dose can be deadly.

“The way that social media works, the way that the dark web works, if you have access to a phone, there’s a drug dealer attached to that phone whether you know it or not,” said Dixon.

Having the fentanyl and pills discussion now with children. There’s a good chance that at some point, they will be faced with the drug crisis, right in front of them.

“Having those early conversations and ensuring that there is an exit plan if your child is approached and someone offers them counterfeit pills. Are we having that conversation at home?” asked Dixon.

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