updated May 14, 2025
ONE PILL CAN KILL
Nearly 100 Solano residents die each year from fake street pills and overdoses.
Dealers and “plugs” often claim these drugs reduce anxiety, improve focus or help with pain. Unfortunately, they’re either lying or misinformed—unaware that they’re selling fakes laced with a cheap, but deadly, dose of fentanyl.
Fentanyl makes drugs cheaper, more addictive—and dangerous. One in four pills sold on the street or in online marketplaces are, in fact, counterfeit medications made with deadly fentanyl.
More than 100,000 Americans died last year of any kind of overdose. Two-thirds of those were due to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100x stronger than morphine and 50x more potent than heroin. It takes just 2mg of fentanyl—equal to 4 grains of sand—to kill one person. Just 8 ounces of it could kill everyone in Solano County.
It comes down to this: if a pill isn’t from a pharmacy, it’s not safe. Fentanyl’s impact on Solano County is immense, cutting lives short, ending friendships and shattering families’ hearts.
Watch These Two 30-second Stories
See how fentanyl impacts our community
CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE?
Counterfeit drugs look identical to the real thing. The only safe medications are those purchased with a prescription or provided by a doctor, nurse, dentist or pharmacist.
Counterfeit pills that have been spotted in the community include painkillers, anti-anxiety medicines and ADHD stimulants.
Examples include:
- Oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
- Alprazolam (Xanax®)
- Amphetamines (Adderall®)
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin®)
Fake pills are often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, in-person from drug dealers and within other black markets. They are also found at schools, shared between friends. Many users are lured in by false claims that the pills are simply “leftovers from a relative’s injury” or “an old prescription,” when they’re actually deadly street pills. How can anyone really know?
STOP OVERDOSE DEATHS
Counterfeit pills can quickly lead to an overdose and death.
Initial effects include relaxation, euphoria, pain relief and sedation, but can quickly turn to confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, cold or discolored skin, vomiting, choking, weak breathing, and without immediate action, death.
Those who are experiencing an overdose often have constricted “pinpoint” pupils and appear limp.
Once signs of overdose are apparent, it’s critical for users and those close by to act quickly:
- Immediately contact 911.
- If on hand, administer lifesaving Naloxone (Narcan®). Naloxone can be purchased from a local pharmacy without a prescription or online from Amazon. The State of California, via CalRx, also offers $24 discounted Naloxone.
- Lay the person on their side to prevent choking and keep them awake until help arrives.
Sources: DEA, CDC and Drug Safe Solano (Touro University)
PARENTS: PREVENT YOUTH ACCESS
Fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills are widely advertised to youth on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Why? To reach a younger, more vulnerable potential customers. These ads often appear in temporary “stories” and are accompanied by code words or emojis. Buyers are then redirected to encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram, where drugs are sold via payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App or Remitly.
Please talk to your children about the dangers of counterfeit pills. Pills bought online or handed out by friends are almost never what they seem.
Public Service Announcements with Vacaville USD
Watch these 4 videos co-developed by high school students, parents, VUSD’s Public Information Officer, and concerned residents in collaboration with Solano Public Health/VibeSolano:
TREATMENT RESOURCES
For Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services in Solano County visit the Solano County Behavioral Health Services Page
MORE PREVENTION RESOURCES
To learn more, visit one of our VibeSolano’s partner websites:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Stop Overdose
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) | One Pill Can Kill
- Drug Safe Solano (Touro University) | Prevention
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH) | Opioid Overdose Prevention
**Xylazine update**
A very dangerous drug when used by humans, Xylazine, is now being added to the illicit drug supply. It is often found in fentanyl laced street pills. It was developed for use as a tranquilizer for horses and other large animals. It is being sold as “tranq,” “tranq dope,” “philly dope,” or “zombie drug.” Xylazine is being combined with other opioids increasing the nation’s rate of fatal overdose deaths. Per the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), between 2020 and 2021 xylazine-positive overdose deaths increased by 1,127% in the Southern region of the US, 750% in the West, more than 500% in the Midwest and more than 100% in the Northwest. People using illicit drugs may not be aware that xylazine is getting mixed-in with their supply.
Because Xylazine is a sedative, naloxone (Narcan) can’t reverse a Xylazine overdose. However, since Xylazine is often combined with other opioids such as fentanyl, or oxy, administering naloxone is still highly recommended if the person is non-responsive to combat the other opiates in an overdose situation.
Xylazine has been seen in every region in the US and has made its way to California. Solano County will continue to monitor and address this emerging threat on the West Coast. For more information on Xylazine and preventive measures, please visit the California Department of Public Health website https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/sapb/Pages/Xylazine.aspx and the White House briefing paper here: Biden-Harris Administration Designates Fentanyl Combined with Xylazine as an Emerging Threat to the United States | ONDCP | The White House
If you have any questions, please contact David Gao Chan, Solano County Public Health, at DCGaoChan@SolanoCounty.com