Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - In response to the alarming number of drug-overdose deaths among youth, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is launching a social media campaign about the dangers of counterfeit pills.
Fentanyl is showing up in drugs and pills coming across the border from Mexico, and while teenagers think they’re taking a prescription pill, but the Drug Enforcement Administration says 40% of counterfeit pills coming into the United States contain deadly amounts of fentanyl.
Clark County experienced a 196% increase in fentanyl-related overdoses between 2019 and 2020, and LVMPD narcotics detectives are seeing a growing number of middle school kids trying pills, not realizing the deadly consequences.
In 2020 and 2021, Clark County 16 kids under age 18 died of fentanyl overdoses. And detectives say many of the victims had no idea what was in the pills they took.
LVMPD’s social media campaign’s goal is to warn teens as the summer kicks in, and parties ramp up. Teens are encouraged to share the videos with their friends. Parents are encouraged to talk to their kids about the dangers of taking any pills that are not prescribed to them by their doctor