What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid easily produced in labs or on streets, is at the heart of the most recent drug epidemic. It is a dangerously potent drug, approximately 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It has caused a staggering surge in deaths since 2016.

Where is fentanyl found?

Fentanyl is often found mixed in with other illicit drugs including heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Counterfeit pills posing as Xanax or Oxycodone often contain it, because it is so cheap to make. In other cases, contamination in other drugs can be a result of mishandling by illegal manufacturers and distributors.

What are we doing about it?

To combat this, our office has implemented a three-pronged approach: prosecution, education, and prevention, and we have been aggressive in prosecuting dealers. Our office was among the first in Southern California to charge drug dealers with murder for fentanyl-related deaths. A notable verdict in 2023 saw our office successfully prosecute a dealer for second-degree murder after demonstrating their knowledge of the drug's lethality before providing it to the victim.

What are we doing about it?

In 2021, we initiated an educational campaign with the tagline, “What’s in your pills? Fentanyl Kills.” Through social media and partnerships with community organizations like the Corona Chamber of Commerce, we have spread our message through videos, graphics, bumper stickers, and even billboards.

Countywide Efforts

On a larger scale, we actively work with the Board of Supervisors-directed Multidisciplinary Committee, federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and neighboring DA offices. Our initiatives encompass law enforcement training, public announcements, educational outreach, and more.

Informing Youth

Our Crime Prevention Unit places a particular emphasis on the youth. They give many presentations and share heartbreaking testimonials from parents who've lost their children to fentanyl. The Crime Prevention Unit has given more than 100 presentations in schools countywide and partnered with school districts like Desert Sands Unified School District to provide cautionary fentanyl lanyards to more than 12,000 students.

Law Enforcement

Our Bureau of Investigation has also been crucial in prevention through seizures and law enforcement. Between February 2021 to December 2022, the Riverside County Gang Impact Team seized an astounding 33.5 kilograms of fentanyl and tens of thousands of pills containing fentanyl. To put that into perspective, that amount of fentanyl could kill the entire population of Riverside County at least six times over.