PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

News & Events

• DEA Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

  Washington – On Friday, August 21, 2026, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will join Facing Fentanyl (opens in a new tab), to unite families, communities, and organizations across the country in recognizing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the national observance which honors and remembers the lives lost to fentanyl poisoning. 

  This year’s theme, “Power of the Parent,” recognizes the critical role parents and families play in shaping conversations, raising awareness, and helping protect loved ones. Their voices make a meaningful impact: One Nation. One Fight. Facing Fentanyl. Together. 

  This day serves as a nationwide call to action to increase awareness to the highly addictive and dangerous drugs containing fentanyl that continue to drive the opioid epidemic and take lives. DEA’s observation of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day will include extended DEA Museum hours and the Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, August 21.

  "Every day that I walk into DEA Headquarters, I am reminded of the enormous toll of the fentanyl crisis. Thousands of faces make up DEA's Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit, and each month we receive hundreds of new photos,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “I've also met remarkable parents who have turned their grief into action – educating communities, advocating for change, and saving lives. Parents are our most powerful allies in this fight, and together, we will build a Fentanyl Free America."

  The Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit is a representation of the faces of Americans – all ages, all races, and all backgrounds – who have been lost to the synthetic opioid crisis. More than 7,000 photos are displayed throughout the exhibit, which was enhanced last year by the addition of a new, interactive online exhibit, which is accessible at dea.gov/facesoffentanyl (opens in a new tab). 

  Fentanyl-related deaths have declined over the past several years, yet fentanyl remains the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-45 years old. Last year, DEA intensified its fight against the deadly threat of synthetic opioids with the launch of its Fentanyl Free America (opens in a new tab) initiative.

  DEA urges the public to remain cognizant of the extreme threat of fentanyl in our communities:

  • Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. 
  • Just two milligrams, the equivalent of a few grains of salt, is a potentially lethal dose.
  • The Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG, both designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (opens in a new tab) in 2025, are pressing fentanyl into counterfeit pills that look like prescription medications – such as oxycodone, Xanax, and Percocet – as well as mixing fentanyl powder with cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. 
  • Many of the people poisoned by fentanyl had no idea they were even taking it.
  • The only safe medications are ones that come from licensed and accredited medical professionals.

  The DEA Museum (opens in a new tab) and Faces of Fentanyl (opens in a new tab) memorial exhibit are located at 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Va., 22202. There is metered street parking around the building and a parking garage at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City across the street. 

  If you would like to submit a photo of a loved one lost to fentanyl, please visit the Faces of Fentanyl web page, click on Add a Photo to the Exhibit | Faces of Fentanyl (opens in a new tab) and follow the instructions.

  For more information about fentanyl and how you can join the fight, visit Fentanyl Free America | DEA.gov (opens in a new tab) and One Pill Can Kill (opens in a new tab). DEA resources are all available for public use. 

  Help spread awareness about the dangers of fentanyl by posting a photo on social media using the hashtag #FentanylAwarenessDay.

  Read More August 19, 2026

• New NOFO for BJA FY2026 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)

  August 13, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY2026 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). This opportunity seeks to enhance the capacity of regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health officials to collect and analyze controlled substance prescription data and other scheduled chemical products through a centralized database administered by an authorized agency. This NOFO was released August 13, 2026 for eligible applicants of State governments, Native American Tribal governments (federally recognized), and Native American Tribal governments (other than federally recognized).  There are fifteen anticipated number of grant awards up to $2,000,000 each for an expected total amount of funding of approximately $30,582,309.  The Key Dates and Times are as follows: 

  - NOFO Release Date - August 13, 2026
  - SAM.gov Registration/Renewal - Begin the process by August 24, 2026, and no later than September 9, 2026
  - Step 1: Grants.gov Deadline - 11:59 p.m. ET on September 23, 2026 
  - Step 2: JustGrants Deadline - 8:59 p.m. ET on September 30, 2026 
  - Anticipated Notification Date - By September 30, 2026

  Additional information can be found at:

  • NOFO PDF: https://www.ojp.gov/funding/docs/bja-2026-172675.pdf (opens in a new tab)
  • OJP Current Funding Opps page: https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities (opens in a new tab)
  • BJA funding detail page: https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2026-172675 (opens in a new tab)

  Read More August 13, 2026

• PDMP TTAC Releases New Website Feature

  August 3, 2026 - The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Training and Technical Assistance Center (PDMP TTAC) at the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) is updating the website (www.pdmpassist.org (opens in a new tab)) and releasing new modules over the next few months.  The first in the series of website enhancements was released on August 3, 2026.  The News & Events section will provide information relevant to PDMP staff and administrators, as well as related stakeholders, including proposed and final rules and regulations and updates from federal agencies, as well as upcoming meetings, conferences, and events that are of interest to PDMP stakeholders. New information will be posted as it is made available.  If there is new information you know of that you would like to see posted, please contact PDMP TTAC at pdmpassist@iir.com.

  Read More August 03, 2026