Memorandum
Date: April 21, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Stephen L. Carter Jr., Interim Health Services Director
Subject: Adopt Proclamation Designating April 29th 2026 as Fentanyl Awareness Day in Lake County
Executive Summary:
Designating April 29th 2026 as Fentanyl Awareness Day in Lake County
WHEREAS, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine; and
WHEREAS, fentanyl use impacts adults and youth of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, according to the CDC 79,384 people in the United States died of drug overdoses in 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, the drug overdose rate involving synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, decreased by 35.6%; and
WHEREAS, through acknowledgement of Fentanyl Awareness Day, Lake County creates a space for organizations, community, affected individuals and family members to come together, sharing experiences as a whole group to counsel our youth and the public about the dangers of fentanyl; and
WHEREAS, with commitment and support, fentanyl related deaths can be prevented; however, success will not occur overnight; our patience and continued commitment to education and prevention are imperative; and
WHEREAS, while expanding access to fentanyl test strips and the emergency overdose reversal drug, naloxone, is key to reducing fentanyl use, poisoning and overdose, the stigma that surrounds drug use, addiction, and overdose often makes it difficult for communities to implement these measures and effectively address the opioid crisis; and
WHEREAS, today, the County of Lake joins all those who have been affected by fentanyl use in spreading awareness of the harm that fentanyl can cause and reminds all community members that anyone can save a life by educating themselves on the signs of an overdose, learning h...
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