February 2024: The One Pill Can Kill Virginia campaign now has a website: onepillcankillva.org
One Pill Can Kill
Attorney General Miyares launched the “One Pill Can Kill” public awareness campaign in Virginia in November 2022.
“The opioid epidemic has had a devastating effect on our Commonwealth. There isn’t a corner of our state that hasn’t been touched by its pain and destruction. Tragically, overdose deaths are now not limited to addiction, but to counterfeit pills laced with a highly potent, deadly substance – fentanyl,” said Attorney General Miyares.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many young people overdose and die after experimenting with these powerful drugs. As a father, this new threat terrifies me. That’s why I launched ‘One Pill Can Kill,’ a public awareness initiative aimed at generating conversations around the dangers of counterfeit drugs and fentanyl.”
In Virginia, the leading cause of unnatural death is drug overdoses, and has been since 2013. Opioids – specifically fentanyl – have been the driving force behind the large increases. In 2021, fentanyl contributed to 76.4% of all Virginia overdose deaths. The total number of fatal fentanyl overdoses increased 22.8% from 2020 to 2021. It was estimated that in 2021, 98% of fatal fentanyl overdoses in Virginia were caused by the illicit, rather than prescription, version of the drug.
Virginia Rules Resources
Off-site Resources
- https://onepillcankillva.org/ (community)
- https://www.itonlytakesoneva.com/ (community)
- https://www.dea.gov/onepill (community)
- https://www.justthinktwice.gov/ (geared to students)
- https://www.operationprevention.com/ (parents and schools)
- https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/ (parents and educators)
