Welcome Primary Care Providers
Thank you for taking an active role in addressing the opioid crisis. This page provides harm reduction tools, patient education materials, and clinical guidance to help you discuss fentanyl with your patients effectively.
The Role of Primary Care in Fentanyl Education
Primary care providers hold a unique position to lead life-saving conversations about fentanyl and drug safety. By educating patients on the risks of fentanyl-laced substances, recognizing signs of exposure, and offering harm reduction tools like Narcan and fentanyl test strips, providers can:
Empower patients to make informed decisions about their health and safety
Reduce stigma around substance use and encourage open dialogue
Help prevent unintentional overdoses through early intervention and education
Connect patients to resources and support tailored to their needs
Your knowledge and compassionate communication can make a profound difference by turning a routine appointment into an opportunity to save lives and filling the critical gap of support for young patients.
The Role of Primary Care in Fentanyl Education
Primary care providers hold a unique position to lead life-saving conversations about fentanyl and drug safety. By educating patients on the risks of fentanyl-laced substances, recognizing signs of exposure, and offering harm reduction tools like Narcan and fentanyl test strips, providers can:
Empower patients to make informed decisions about their health and safety
Reduce stigma around substance use and encourage open dialogue
Help prevent unintentional overdoses through early intervention and education
Connect patients to resources and support tailored to their needs
Your knowledge and compassionate communication can make a profound difference by turning a routine appointment into an opportunity to save lives and filling the critical gap of support for young patients.
🎥 Video: Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis
A Guide for Primary Care Providers
Watch this brief video to gain insights into the dangers of fentanyl, its prevalence, and how you can educate your patients effectively.
What’s in Your BirdieBox?
Inside the kit we delivered to your office, you’ll find:
Naloxone (Narcan)
Fentanyl Test Strips with instructions attached
“How to Save a Life With Narcan” Flyers
Visual pill comparison pictures
Posters
Pamphlets for patients and parents
These materials are designed to make it easier to talk about fentanyl in your office and provide patients with what they need to stay informed.
How Can I restock Supplies?
In the additional resources section below, you’ll find a button labeled “Request Additional Materials.” Fill out the form and we’ll follow up to schedule a restock drop-off. You can also find the link to the form in the How-To Guide as a QR code.
Should I talk to patients about fentanyl if they don’t use opioids?
Absolutely. Even if your patient is not using opioids, it’s still important to talk with them about fentanyl. Many people are unaware that fentanyl is being mixed into non-opioid substances like counterfeit pills, cocaine, and other drugs. Your patient may not be using these substances, but someone they know might be at risk or they could unknowingly encounter a laced product in the future.
Having this conversation helps raise awareness, reduce stigma, and equip your patient with information that could protect their life or someone else’s. It’s about prevention, not assumption.
How Accurate are Fentanyl Test Strips?
The fentanyl test strips that we have provided you are 92 to 96% effective in finding fentanyl analogues in a substance. It is important to understand though that this is not 100%. For this, we always push that if someone chooses to make the informed decision and move forward with ingesting a suto make the informed decision and move forward with ingesting a substance they need to always know where the Narcan is, and never take any thing alonebstance they need to always know where the Narcan is, and never take any thing alone
Can Narcan can be used after it's expiration date?
Yes, Narcan can still be used after its expiration date. If you look in your BirdieBox, we’ve included data on that, along with information about fentanyl test strips. Both can be effective for up to two years past their expiration dates.
Can family members or caregivers also access these educational materials?
Yes, they can access this information as well. We’ve provided pamphlets for the general population ages 12 to 25, as well as materials for parents and caregivers on how to talk to their kids about fentanyl. They can also view the videos available on the Patient Resources page.
Additional Resources
Have Any Questions or Concerns?
If you need any assistance or have any further questions, reach out to info@birdielight.org. We will gladly help you with any issues you have.