NEW ORLEANS – With millions of Americans planning to watch the Super Bowl, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is teaming up with NFL Alumni Health to raise awareness about deadly synthetic drugs, including fentanyl. DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz is also challenging influencers, celebrities and professional athletes to take part in the Step Up, Speak Out, and Fight Back challenge. Maltz specifically targeted Taylor Swift during a New York Post interview.
“Here’s the thing: Taylor Swift has 300 million followers. If she did one 30-second video about the dangers of synthetic drugs, she could literally save thousands and thousands of young kids because they listen to her,” Maltz told the New York Post.
Other names mentioned include Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and WNBA star Caitlin Clark.
“Our future generation is under attack. Fentanyl is killing Americans across the country, including our youth. Criminal networks are targeting Americans with deadly drugs, and they’re doing it where young people spend most of their time – on social media,” said Maltz.
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates more than 94,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending July 2024
