Fentanyl Awareness in Eugene

EUGENE, Ore. – Erik Kilgore set out to raise fentanyl awareness and potentially save someone from overdosing by handing out medication that reverses opioid overdoses at the spring ASUO Street Faire in May.

He later learned that the medication kit distributed by his non-profit Henry’s Uncle ended up saving a friend’s life when he returned to the University of Oregon campus for the fall ASUO Street Faire in October.

“Anytime people are using [drugs] now, it’s Russian Roulette,” said Kilgore.

Kilgore created Henry’s Uncle in early 2019 after the passing of his older brother, James Kilgore, from fentanyl poisoning. He aimed to raise awareness of illicit fentanyl and end the stigma around addiction.

“I didn’t know anything about Naloxone or fentanyl until my brother passed away four years ago,” said Kilgore. “I wish I knew a lot more earlier, but sometimes it takes a death around you to really look into it and understand the severity of what’s happening in society.”

Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid. According to the CDC, fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Pharmaceutical fentanyl is used for treating severe pain in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges. Fentanyl produces effects such as relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, sedation, confusion, nausea and more.

Most recent fentanyl overdoses in the U.S. have been caused by illicitly manufactured fentanyl. IMF is often mixed with heroin and or cocaine to increase a euphoric effect.

“Fentanyl is killing Americans at an unprecedented rate,” said Anne Milgram with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Fentanyl is the second leading cause of unintentional overdose in Oregon according to the Oregon Health Authority. The OHA recorded 745 unintentional opioid overdose deaths in 2021.

Powdered fentanyl looks like many other drugs and makes it easy to lace with other substances. It can easily be made to resemble prescription opioid pills. IMF is also found in a liquid form like nasal sprays and eyedrops.

Drugs are usually laced with IMF because of its strong potency. This makes the laced drugs cheaper, stronger and more addictive.