News & Events

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.

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.

August 3, 2026 - The American Society of Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP, https://asapnet.org) is in the process of soliciting recommendations for the next version of the ASAP 5.x reporting standard.  The last Implementation Guide ASAP Standard for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs version 5.0 was released in 2023.  On June 16, 2026 BIll Lockwood, Executive Director of ASAP, presented a Town Hall hosted by PDMP TTAC to present current suggestions for the next version.  PDMP administrators may submit recommendations or comments to Bill Lockwood (wal@computertalk.com), PDMP TTAC (pdmpassist@iir.com), or to post suggestions on PDMP PULSE.  After all recommendations are submitted, ASAP will schedule stakeholder meetings in November to include PDMP administrators and pharmacy software vendors and chains to discuss suggested changes for the next version of the reporting standard.  

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

August 3, 2026 – The American Society for Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP, https://asapnet.org (opens in a new tab)) is holding the 2027 annual conference at Amelia Island, Florida from January 13-15, 2027.  To register online, make hotel reservations, and to view additional information about the conference, select Learn More.

On May 20, 2026 the Department of Veterans Affairs published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (Document Citation 91 FR 29407). The Summary Reads, “The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulation that governs disclosure of information to and querying of State prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). The rule would clarify certain statutory definitions, including the definition of delegate and licensed health care provider. In doing so, VA would eliminate confusion as to who VA would allow to query the PDMP and would better protect these individuals from any possible adverse action by a State, as long as they are acting within the scope of their VA employment or, if applicable, scope of their contract. The rule would also mandate that VA disclose the specified information to State PDMPs to the extent necessary to prevent misuse and diversion of prescription medicines. This proposed rule would promote safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances to covered individuals and patients who receive VA health care.”. Public Comments must be received by July 20, 2026.

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)

The 2026 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Meeting Agenda: PDMPs: Collaborating to Address the Prescription Drug Crisis is scheduled for Thursday, August 13 and August 27.  Several national speakers will present on the opioid crisis and prescription drug misuse.  Select Learn More to view the agenda (https://www.pdmpassist.org/Content/Documents/Harold_Rogers_Virtual_Meeting_20260813-27.pdf) for each date.

As of June 8, 2026 the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs has released notification of all awards of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) FY25 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. The 19 awards totals $33,695,418 over the award period, with a maximum award amount of $2,000,000 per jurisdiction. 

August 3, 2026 - The National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities (NASCSA, https://nascsa.org/ (opens in a new tab) ) is holding the 42nd annual conference at Portland, Maine from October 26-29., 2026.  To register online, make hotel reservations, and to view additional information about the conference, select Learn More.

August 3, 2026 – The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy released an update to their Model Prescription Monitoring Program Act. This is typically updated and published each August.  To read the Act, select Learn More

In accordance with President Trump’s December 18, 2025, Executive Order on Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research, the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) today announced the issuance of an order (opens in a new tab) immediately placing both FDA-approved products containing marijuana and marijuana products regulated by a state medical marijuana license in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, as well as the initiation of an expedited administrative hearing process to consider the broader rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. The new hearing (opens in a new tab), beginning June 29, 2026, will provide a timely and legally compliant pathway to evaluate broader changes to marijuana’s status under federal law. Together, these actions provide immediate and long-term clarity to researchers, patients, and providers alike while still maintaining strict federal controls against illicit drug trafficking.