Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Unlike medical fentanyl, illegally made fentanyl is often made in unsanitary conditions, not carefully dosed or blended and laced in other street drugs, including pills, powders and crystals.
Renown encourages all community members visit FentanylAwarenessDay.org for resources tailored for many different groups, including families, schools, companies and more.
“Opioid addiction is an epidemic nationwide, and Nevada is no exception – and with dangerous synthetic opioids like fentanyl becoming easier to access, it’s our responsibility as healthcare professionals to take action,” said Takesha Cooper, MD, Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med). “It’s important for our community to know what they can do to help themselves, or someone they love, who may be struggling with fentanyl addiction. The Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute is here to help those affected by fentanyl.”
Know the Signs of an Overdose
Driven by the ease of access to counterfeit opioids in Nevada and across the country, fentanyl is a leading cause of overdose deaths, with only a few grains needed to become lethal. According for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), synthetic opioids (including illegally made fentanyl) were involved in approximately 68% of overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2022. 80% of teen drug deaths, as reported by experts at FentanylAwarenessDay.org, involve fentanyl each year.
The symptoms of fentanyl overdose include the following:
Loss of consciousness
Pinpoint pupils
Unresponsiveness
Irregular breathing
Inability to speak
Take Action to Save a Life
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses by blocking opioid receptors in the brain. It can be given to someone experiencing an overdose by healthcare providers, first responders, family members, caregivers and the public until emergency medical services arrive.
While it is important to note that naloxone is not a substitute for emergency care, it is a crucial step in saving the life of someone who may be overdosing on opioids, including fentanyl.
As of March 2023, naloxone is now available over the counter in many retail pharmacies across the country, as well as with a prescription. Renown recommends those who are seeking naloxone near them to visit HarmReduction.org.
All U.S. states (except for Wyoming) and Canada follow Overdose Good Samaritan laws, which provide certain legal protections for people seeking emergency medical care for themselves or someone else during an overdose. Exact laws and protection levels differ state-by-state.
Nevada offers some of the strongest Good Samaritan protections in the country. Under NRC 453C (the Nevada Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act), both the 9-1-1 caller and the person experiencing overdose are protected against arrests, charges and prosecution for possession of substances, underage alcohol or drug paraphernalia. In addition, Nevada has decriminalized fentanyl test strips.
Medication-Assisted Treatment at Renown Health
The Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute offers evidence-based, personalized care through its Addiction Medicine Services. These services include a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program specifically tailored for adults and teenagers struggling with substance abuse, including fentanyl and other opioids. Run by Bret Bellard, MD, Board-Certified Addiction Medicine Physician at Renown, the MAT program combines medication and therapy to help manage withdrawal symptoms and other co-occurring conditions, reducing the risk of relapse and improving patient outcomes.
Those interested in this treatment program can learn more by calling 775-982-5419.
The Future of Addiction Medicine in Northern Nevada
In alignment with their commitment to build a healthier Nevada, UNR Med and Renown are collaborating to launch an addiction medicine training program for physicians, set to launch on July 1, 2026. This program will help strengthen resources to addiction treatment and expand the medical workforce serving individuals struggling with addiction throughout the region.
About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 8.000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org.
Renown Health Now Provides Confidential Mental Health Services for Healthcare Professionals and First Responders
"Code Phoenix” establishes a protected pathway for short-term mental health stabilization for healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, and firefighters, delivered in a supportive environment built for the unique realities of their work.
Book an Appointment with a Renown Medical Group Cardiology Provider
Renown Health today announced that patients seeking Renown cardiology care can now conveniently schedule their appointments online. The new digital scheduling option is available for both new and existing patients, providing easier access to high-quality heart care across northern Nevada.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for Nevadans and people across the nation,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, president and CEO, Renown Health. “At Renown, we believe everyone deserves timely, expert care for their heart. By making it easier for patients to connect with our cardiology team, we’re helping people take proactive steps toward longer, healthier lives.”
“This new online scheduling feature is one more way we’re improving access and convenience for our community, helping people get the specialized care they need quickly and easily,” said Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA, CEO of Renown Medical Group. “Whether a patient is managing a chronic heart condition or seeking preventative care, we want to make every step, from scheduling to treatment to follow up, as seamless and supportive as possible. Our goal is to ensure that world-class cardiology care is easy to access for every member of our community.”
“People experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, or palpitations are encouraged to first contact their primary care provider,” said Marie McCormack, MD, Division Chief, Primary Care, Renown Medical Group. “Primary care providers can evaluate symptoms, provide guidance, and if needed, refer patients to a Renown Medical Group cardiologist for an appointment for specialized heart care”
“The Renown Heart & Vascular Institute team has earned the trust and gratitude of the community with more than 18,000 patients rating their Renown Medical Group-Cardiology providers an outstanding 4.9 out of 5 stars for care,” said Darcy Ohm, Administrative Director, Cardiology, who led the project. “Now patients can schedule their cardiology appointments online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with more than 35 cardiology providers at Renown Heart & Vascular Institute locations in Reno, South Reno, Carson City and Fallon, Nevada.”
Renown Health is proud to announce the opening of a new urgent care facility located at 6512 South McCarran Blvd in Southwest Reno, providing high quality, convenient and affordable urgent care for families in Reno and surrounding communities. This facility, opening today, Nov. 18, is Renown’s 12th urgent care location and is equipped to treat patients of all ages with minor illnesses, injuries and other non-life-threatening conditions, 7 days a week.
“We’re grateful that our customers continue to tell us what matters most to them. They’ve asked for more Renown urgent care locations, and we’re listening. As southwest Reno continues to grow, we’re proud to open a beautiful new urgent care site that offers high quality, convenient and affordable care seven days a week, right near the shopping district, Lakeridge Shores, Rancharrah and Caughlin Ranch communities,” said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, CEO & President, Renown Health. “As Nevada's only not-for-profit academic health system, we are committed to reinvesting our proceeds to enhance clinical expertise, expand facilities and services and invest in the health and well-being of our community.”
