Maddie Wright Foundation
Education · Awareness · Harm Reduction
Education · Awareness · Harm Reduction
Education · Awareness · Harm Reduction
Recognize the signs quickly — every second counts. Fentanyl can act within minutes.
Cyanosis signals dangerously low oxygen levels. Bluish discoloration of lips, fingernails, or skin is a medical emergency.
Less than one breath every 5 seconds, gurgling "death rattle" sounds, or complete cessation of breathing.
Extremely small, constricted pupils even in low light — a hallmark sign of opioid poisoning.
Cannot be roused by voice, sternal rub, or pinching. Requires immediate emergency intervention.
Severe sedation, head drooping, or "on the nod" — drifting in and out of consciousness mid-sentence.
Unusual breathing sounds or wet rattling noises can indicate the airway is being compromised.
Completely limp with no muscle tone — may slump from a chair or unable to hold their head up.
Combined with pale/clammy skin, slurred speech, or extreme disorientation — may indicate early overdose.
Weak, slow, or irregular heartbeat. Combined with other signs, this is a serious medical situation.
Narcan reverses opioid overdose and saves lives. Free or low-cost at most Colorado pharmacies — no prescription needed.
Get Narcan Resources →Colorado law protects you when you help someone in need. Don't let fear stop you from calling for help.
C.R.S. § 13-21-108 provides legal protection from drug-related arrest and prosecution when you call 911 to report a drug or alcohol overdose emergency in good faith.
Don't hesitate — call 911 right away. Give exact location, that the person is unresponsive, and that you suspect an overdose. The Good Samaritan Law protects you.
Spray one dose into one nostril. Give a second dose after 2–3 minutes if no response. Colorado law protects you when administering Narcan in good faith.
Tilt head back, lift chin, give one breath every 5 seconds. If no pulse: 30 chest compressions, 2 breaths. Continue until EMS arrives.
If breathing but unconscious, roll onto their side to prevent choking on vomit. Keep airway clear and monitor breathing.
Do not leave them alone. Stay on the line with dispatch. Keep them calm if conscious. If agitated from Narcan (withdrawal), keep them safe but don't restrain.
Tell EMS what was taken, when, and how much if known. You're protected under the Good Samaritan Law. No need to volunteer extra information.
Drug trafficking, distribution, outstanding warrants, and crimes other than personal possession. Bottom line: Always call — the life you save matters more than any legal concern.
Gentle, substance-free techniques to calm your nervous system and find peace in difficult moments.
Inhale 4 counts, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4. Activates your parasympathetic nervous system within minutes.
Name 5 things you see, 4 touch, 3 hear, 2 smell, 1 taste. Pulls you into the present moment instantly.
Hold ice or splash cold water on your face. Triggers the dive reflex, slowing heart rate almost instantly.
Even a 5-minute walk burns off stress hormones. Rhythmic motion naturally soothes the nervous system.
Tense each muscle group for 5 seconds, then release. Start from toes up. Signals your body to relax deeply.
Chamomile tea, lavender aromatherapy, and valerian root are evidence-backed, non-addictive anxiety aids.
Write anxious thoughts to externalize them. Getting worries onto paper reduces their emotional intensity.
Tap acupressure points while vocalizing feelings. Studies show it reduces cortisol levels by up to 43%.
Ask: "Is this thought true? Is it helpful?" Replace catastrophic thinking with balanced perspectives.
4-7-8 Breathing — clinically proven to calm anxiety
Fentanyl poisoning is exactly that — poisoning. The drug supply is contaminated with a substance so potent that no one who encountered it deserved what happened. Addiction is a medical condition, not a moral failing, and neither you nor your loved one chose this outcome.
Connecting with others who truly understand this kind of loss — the sudden, violent, preventable loss of someone to poisoning — can be the most healing thing you do. Support groups for families of overdose loss are free and available in Denver and online.
Grieving Survivors Support →You may feel okay one hour and devastated the next. Birthdays, holidays, or a random song can bring it flooding back. This is normal. There is no timeline for grief, no right way to feel, and no finish line. Be gentle with yourself through every wave.
Sharing your loved one's story — like Maddie's family did — saves lives. Consider joining the MWF "YOU SHOULD BE HERE" memorial display, submitting their photo, or attending the annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day event at the Denver Capitol.
MWF Memorial Events →Traumatic grief lives in the body — tightness in the chest, trouble sleeping, fatigue, physical pain. The breathing exercises and grounding techniques on this page are not just for anxiety — they are for grief too. Try the 4-7-8 breathing when grief becomes overwhelming.
Many survivors find meaning in advocacy — volunteering with MWF, carrying Narcan, sharing their story in schools, or simply telling someone about fentanyl test strips. Action cannot erase grief, but it can give it direction and help protect others.
Get Involved with MWF →Add a name below to light a virtual candle for someone you love and miss.
Names are stored locally on your device and shown each time you open the app.
Honor someone you've lost — enter their name and they'll always be remembered here.
If you are in crisis or struggling with grief:
📞 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text, 24/7)
📞 1-800-662-4357 — SAMHSA Helpline (free treatment & grief referrals)
📞 1-844-493-8255 — Colorado Crisis Services (walk-in centers available)
🌹 maddiewrightfoundation.org — Community support & loss resources
Solfeggio frequencies and binaural beats used for centuries to promote healing, reduce anxiety, and restore balance to mind and body.
🎵 How to use: Click any card to play a pure tone. Use headphones for binaural beats. 15–30 minutes for best results.
Learn how to use naloxone correctly. It's simple, safe, and could save someone's life. No medical training required.
Choose the format you have available — all three are official training resources
Always call 911 FIRST before administering Narcan. Naloxone wears off in 30–90 minutes — the person MUST be evaluated by medical professionals. Never leave them alone.
NARCAN® Nasal Spray · No needles · Works through the nose
Call 911 immediately. Give exact location. The Good Samaritan Law protects you — do not hesitate to call.
⏱️ Do this before touching the NarcanRub knuckles firmly on the sternum or shout their name. If no response or breathing is very slow — proceed immediately.
⚡ When in doubt — use the NarcanPeel back the foil. Hold with thumb on plunger bottom, index and middle fingers on each side of the nozzle. No assembly needed.
💡 No assembly requiredLay flat on back. Tilt head back slightly to open the airway. Support their neck so nasal passages align for effective delivery.
🩺 Airway must be openGently insert the nozzle into one nostril until fingers touch the bottom of the nose. Press the plunger firmly with your thumb to release the full dose.
👃 One nostril only for first dosePlace in recovery position (on side). Watch for normal breathing. Give one rescue breath every 5 seconds if they are not breathing.
🫁 Continue rescue breathing if neededIf no response after 2–3 minutes, administer a second dose in the other nostril. A third dose can be given if available.
💊 Use the opposite nostrilNaloxone wears off in 30–90 min. Person may re-enter overdose. Stay calm if they become agitated — it's opioid withdrawal, not anger at you.
⚠️ Narcan wears off — stay presentEVZIO® · Voice-guided device · Injected into outer thigh
EVZIO talks to you! When you open the outer case, the device gives real-time voice instructions. Follow the voice prompts — they walk you through every step automatically.
Remove device from outer case. Pull off the RED safety guard from the bottom. The device immediately begins voice instructions — listen and follow.
🔴 Red cap = safety guardPlace the black end against the outer thigh — midway between hip and knee. Inject through clothing if necessary. Do not use on buttocks or veins.
👖 Through clothing is OKPress device firmly until you hear a click. Hold for 5 full seconds. You'll hear "injection complete." The needle retracts automatically — no risk of needle stick.
🔊 Listen for click + "complete"Watch for response within 2–5 minutes. EVZIO always comes in pairs — use the second in the opposite thigh if no response. Continue until EMS arrives.
💉 EVZIO comes in 2-packRoll onto their side once breathing improves. Never leave them alone. Hand used device(s) to EMS so they know what was administered.
🤝 Give used device to EMSNaloxone begins reversing overdose in 2–5 minutes. Full effect within 5–10 minutes.
30–90 minutes. The opioid may outlast the Narcan — always stay until EMS arrives.
Yes. Naloxone has no effect on someone who has NOT taken opioids. Always give if in doubt.
Store at room temp (59–77°F). Do NOT throw away expired Narcan — the FDA has extended naloxone beyond printed expiration dates and studies show it retains potency for years. Expired Narcan is far better than no Narcan. Replace when you can, but use it in an emergency regardless of date.
Most Colorado pharmacies dispense without a prescription. Contact Maddie Wright Foundation for free supplies.
It's withdrawal — not anger at you. Stay calm, don't restrain, keep them safe, wait for EMS.
Understanding the crisis is the first step to preventing it. Know what's out there, how it works, and how to protect yourself and the people you love.
What everyone needs to know about the most dangerous drug in America
Fentanyl is a synthetic (lab-made) opioid originally developed for severe surgical pain. It is 100× more potent than morphine and 50× stronger than heroin. A lethal dose is approximately 2 milligrams — smaller than a few grains of salt.
Schedule II Controlled SubstanceIllicit fentanyl is mixed into virtually every drug supply — heroin, cocaine, meth, and counterfeit pills. Because it's so potent, even a tiny inconsistency in mixing creates a "hot spot" that can kill instantly. You cannot see, smell, or taste it.
No Antidote Without NarcanBrightly colored fentanyl pills designed to look like candy or SweeTarts. DEA has seized rainbow fentanyl in 46 states. The colors serve no chemical purpose — they are used to attract younger users and make the drug less intimidating.
Targets YouthFake pills pressed to look like Xanax, Adderall, Percocet, and OxyContin are flooding the market. DEA testing found 6 out of 10 counterfeit pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. There is no safe "street pill."
6 in 10 Pills Are Lethal DoseMost illicit fentanyl is manufactured in China or Mexico using chemical precursors. It enters the U.S. primarily through ports of entry, often via mail, and is distributed through local drug networks across all 50 states — including suburban and rural areas.
All 50 States AffectedFentanyl test strips (FTS) can detect fentanyl in drugs before use. They are legal in Colorado and available for free through harm reduction organizations including Maddie Wright Foundation. A positive result = fentanyl present in the supply.
Free in Colorado · LegalNew substances being mixed into the drug supply — often undetectable, often fatal
Xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer (horse sedative) never approved for human use. It is now found mixed with fentanyl in 49 of 50 states (2024 DEA data). Because xylazine is NOT an opioid, Narcan does NOT reverse it — but you should still give Narcan for the fentanyl component. Xylazine causes severe, flesh-rotting skin wounds (necrotic ulcers) that can lead to amputation even at injection sites far from where it was administered. It is classified as an Emerging Threat by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Nitazenes (2-benzylbenzimidazoles) are a group of synthetic opioids developed in the 1950s but never approved for medical use. Some types are 100× stronger than fentanyl and up to 500× more potent than morphine. They are increasingly being substituted for — or mixed with — heroin and fentanyl without the user's knowledge. Standard naloxone doses may be insufficient to reverse nitazene overdoses. Multiple doses of Narcan may be required. The DEA first detected widespread nitazene use in 2019; it has rapidly spread across the U.S. since 2022.
Fentanyl is increasingly being found in the methamphetamine supply — sometimes intentionally added, sometimes from cross-contamination. This combination is especially dangerous because meth masks the early sedating symptoms of fentanyl poisoning, meaning overdose can occur without the usual warning signs. A person may appear awake and alert while their breathing is failing. Fentanyl test strips are critical for anyone using stimulants.
Law enforcement and health agencies have confirmed cases of marijuana laced with fentanyl, though this remains less common than in other drug supplies. Synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice) are increasingly being pressed to look like real cannabis. People who use cannabis and have no opioid tolerance are at extreme risk of fatal overdose from even trace amounts of fentanyl. This is an emerging trend that public health officials are monitoring closely in 2025.
Common misconceptions that cost lives — know the truth
Casual skin contact with fentanyl powder does NOT cause overdose in healthy adults. Overdose requires ingestion, injection, or inhalation. This myth causes harmful hesitation when helping overdose victims.
Because fentanyl is mixed unevenly into street drugs, there is no reliable "safe" dose. Every use carries risk of a lethal "hot spot" — even experienced users can encounter a fatal concentration.
Narcan (naloxone) reverses ALL opioid overdoses — fentanyl, heroin, prescription opioids, and synthetic opioids. For newer drugs like nitazenes, multiple doses may be needed.
FTS can detect fentanyl before use, giving people the choice to avoid contaminated drugs. Studies show FTS use reduces overdose deaths. They are legal and free in Colorado.
This is one of the most deadly myths. Opioid overdose causes breathing to slow and stop — the person is dying, not sleeping. Without intervention, they will not wake up.
Xylazine causes severe necrotic skin wounds that standard overdose protocols do not address. Anyone with suspicious wounds needs medical wound care in addition to naloxone.
Maddie Wright died from fentanyl poisoning. Her foundation works every day so no other family has to feel this loss. Carry Narcan. Know the signs. Call 911. You can save a life.
Learn More & Get Resources →Free Narcan, harm reduction services, crisis hotlines, and upcoming Maddie Wright Foundation events — all in one place.
Available 24/7 — no ID, no prescription, no cost
Denver's Naloxone Project vending machines have distributed 2,000+ free boxes since April 2025. Simply walk up, select naloxone, and it dispenses for free — any time of day or night. No questions asked.
In-person services, Narcan training, fentanyl test strips & more
Join us — education, community, and remembrance
Annual remembrance and awareness rally at the Denver Capitol. Honor loved ones lost on the "YOU SHOULD BE HERE" display. Bring lawn chairs, photos, posters, and candles. Time is reserved for the public to speak. The Denver City & County Building lights up blue in solidarity.
MWF delivers fentanyl awareness curriculum to groups of up to 1,000. Covers fentanyl poisoning signs, how to use Narcan, Good Samaritan Law, and harm reduction strategies. Free for schools, churches, community organizations, and workplaces.
Pop-up Narcan distribution events throughout the Denver metro area. Receive free naloxone nasal spray, fentanyl test strips, and hands-on training from MWF volunteers. Check the MWF website and Instagram for upcoming dates and locations.
Come find the Maddie Wright Foundation table at Levitt Pavilion Denver's free outdoor concert series throughout the summer season. Stop by to pick up free Narcan, fentanyl test strips, educational materials, and connect with our team — all while enjoying great live music in the community.
Follow for event updates, Narcan pop-ups & resources
Free, confidential, 24/7 — call or text anytime
Call immediately for any overdose or life-threatening emergency. You are protected under Colorado's Good Samaritan Law.
📞 Call 911Free, confidential support for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Also supports substance use emergencies. Call or text 24/7.
📞 Call or Text 988Expert guidance on drug overdoses, toxic exposures, and poisoning emergencies. Available 24/7 nationwide.
📞 1-800-222-1222Free, confidential treatment referrals and information for mental health and substance use disorders. 24/7, 365 days a year.
📞 1-800-662-4357Colorado's statewide crisis system. Call, text, or walk into a crisis center near you. Serves mental health and substance use crises.
📞 1-844-493-8255Free helpline specifically for family members of someone struggling with addiction. Get guidance, support, and treatment resources.
📞 1-855-378-4373
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