'No cap': CMPD's new fentanyl awareness campaign uses slang to reach young people - Friday, Nov. 10

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police launched a new fentanyl awareness campaign Thursday called, "No Cap, Those Pills are Sus," designed to reduce overdose deaths that have been labeled a crisis in the Charlotte area. The campaign's name uses slang in an effort to target young people and their families, according to CMPD. The main goal of this campaign is to prevent overdose deaths through education with younger people who are unaware of the risks of fentanyl. CMPD says it has seen a 20% increase in confirmed fentanyl overdoses this year compared to 2022. The majority of those deaths (60%) are people who were younger than 40. Officers say the message of the campaign is simple: street pills kill. "Our approach of using popular slang is intentional," a CMPD spokesperson said. "Let's be honest, some are more familiar than others about the dangers of using pills purchased on the street. The message is twofold. Any pill not purchased directly from a pharmacy could be a fake and has the potential to kill you. Fentanyl often hides in plain sight and if you buy a street pill, there is a very high probability that it will contain fentanyl. Second, proper disposal of pills is essential." READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/fentanyl-awareness-campaign-charlotte-north-carolina-cmpd-opioids-drug-abuse/275-bcba123c-293b-4af9-8864-a01151530a03