(United States) With so much attention ahead of Sunday’s big game, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is once again teaming up with NFL Alumni Health to encourage football fans to join us in the fight to save lives. The need is critical and the game plan simple: understand the dangers of fentanyl and synthetic drugs and use your voice to help spread life-saving information.
DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz has thrown down the challenge to influencers, role models, celebrities and professional athletes to Step Up, Speak Out, and Fight Back.
“Our future generation is under attack. Fentanyl is killing Americans across the country, including our youth. Criminal networks are targeting Americans with deadly drugs and they’re doing it where young people spend most of their time – on social media. I am personally challenging athletes, celebrities, musicians, influencers, and community leaders to step up, speak out, and fight back. We need your voices to be louder than what they are currently engaging with on social media,” said DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz. “We need to tackle this crisis differently, which is why DEA is pleased to again partner with NFL Alumni Health to kick off the One Pill Can Kill, but One Conversation Can Save a Life message into high gear. This year we are challenging those with the loudest voices and biggest platforms to join in the fight. DEA has the resources, so now we are counting on you to make the message go viral.”
Organizations like NFL Alumni Health support lifesaving public outreach and education. “With our focus at NFL Alumni Health on caring for our own, caring for our kids and caring for our community, we recognize how crucial it is to elevate the severe danger of fentanyl and fake pills,” says Brad Edwards, CEO of the NFL Alumni Association.
NFL Alumni Health Managing Member Kyle Richardson added, “We want Americans and families to go deeper than just hearing a scary statistic. We all need to take steps to understand the dangers of fake pills and how to protect ourselves and our families.”
DEA joins our nation’s healthcare leaders, NFL alumni, and the next generation of healthcare professionals at Tulane University’s School of Public Health for a “Huddle for Health” Symposium on February 4 to kick off the week. DEA’s presentation will focus on fentanyl, while encouraging the audience to spread critical awareness. Watch LIVE beginning at1 p.m. CT at NFL Alumni Huddle for Health Symposium – Feb. 4, 2025.
Following the Symposium, DEA Special Agent in Charge Cheri Oz will team up with NFL alumni Rod Woodson and Kyle Richardson to meet with prominent media and talk about why football fans in every city need to understand the risks involved with today’s synthetic drug threat and encourage local and national celebrities to do their part.
DEA and NFL Alumni Health will bring the One Pill Can Kill, but One Conversation Can Save a Life program to a local school in New Orleans as part of our ongoing community outreach enforcements throughout Louisiana.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 94,112 American lives were lost due to drug overdose during the 12-month period ending July 2024. Responding to the fentanyl threat with unparalleled actions and creating disruptions across the illicit fentanyl supply chain, DEA seized over 55,500,000 fentanyl pills and 7,800 pounds of fentanyl last year. That equates to nearly 367 million deadly doses removed from our communities. Half of the pills tested by DEA contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl.
Free resources are available for sharing at dea.gov/onepill.
Connect with DEA on X, Facebook, Instagram, Linked
Share your messages with us by tagging @DEAHQ, @nflalumnihealth , #DEAChallenge, #StandupSpeakoutFightback, #OnePillCanKill, #JointheMovement; #SBLIX, #SB2025.
