3rd Annual National Family Summit on fentanyl highlights progress in fight to save lives

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently hosted the 3rd annual National Family Summit on Fentanyl on November 14th and 15th.  For the past three years, DEA has invited families who have lost a loved one to a fentanyl drug poisoning or overdose to gather in the nation’s capital and explore ways to work with DEA to combat the fentanyl crisis. 

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram provided the more than 120 families in attendance an update on DEA’s progress in the fight to save lives. For the first time since 2018, the United States has seen a decrease in drug overdose deaths. According to the CDC, the U.S. saw a 14.5% decrease in overdose deaths from June 2023 through June 2024. Also, for first time since 2021, DEA has seen a decrease in the potency of fentanyl pills. The latest DEA laboratory testing indicates 5 out of 10 pills tested in 2024 contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. This is down from 7 out of 10 pills in 2023 and 6 out of 10 pills in 2022.                                                

“Decreases in drug related deaths and the lethality of pills equals lives saved. The 14.5% decrease in poisonings and overdose deaths translates to more than 14,000 American lives saved.  The cartels have reduced the amount of fentanyl they put into pills because of the pressure we are putting on them. Much work remains, and one death is too many, but today we can find some comfort in the fact that the work we are all doing together – to enforce our laws; to educate Americans on the dangers of fentanyl; to increase access to Naloxone and MOUD – is saving lives. We are making progress and much of that is due to the efforts made by families to educate the public and other families on the dangers of fentanyl,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Many factors have contributed to this decrease, and it is important we recognize the work of our public safety, public health and community partners who have made it their mission to fight fentanyl and save lives. Our work is far from over and DEA remains focused on destroying the criminal networks – the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels - responsible for poisoning Americans.”

The 2024 National Family Summit on Fentanyl was a two-day event that provided families with the opportunity to attend workshops and take part in a dedication ceremony for the Faces of Fentanyl exhibit’s new interactive kiosk. The Faces of Fentanyl exhibit debuted in 2022 after Administrator Anne Milgram invited families to share photos to remember the lives lost to fentanyl. Since then, DEA has received more than 6,100 photographs that today line the walls of DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.  The exhibit is part of the DEA Museum and is open to the public. The interactive kiosk will provide additional capacity and include information about the threats of illicit fentanyl and fake pills.

DEA also announced the formation of the Together for Families (TFF) Network. TFF will build upon the work of DEA’s national and regional Family Summits by creating a network of national and community-based organizations that will sustain efforts year-round to prevent or respond to drug misuse; help connect people to treatment; support recovery efforts; and provide resources for families impacted by a drug poisoning or overdose. Information about TFF and its members is available at www.dea.gov/togetherforfamilies.

Administrator Milgram’s opening remarks to guests of the 2024 National Family Summits on Fentanyl can be found at www.dea.gov/documents/2024/2024-11/2024-11-14/welcome-remarks-2024-dea-national-family-summit-fentanyl.

The physical Faces of Fentanyl exhibit will remain open to the public at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, VA on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Please check www.deamuseum.org prior to visiting to ensure the museum is operating as normal.

For resources to help parents talk to their kids about the dangers of drug use, please visit the Get Smart About Drugs website. 

If you or someone you know needs help with substance use or mental health disorders, please visit DEA’s Recovery Resources page for list of resources.