Postal Service Issued Fentanyl Awareness Stamp
A new semipostal stamp aims to support addiction research and awareness across the United States.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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The U.S. Postal Service has released a new semipostal stamp titled Know the Facts About Fentanyl. Proceeds from the sales of this stamp will be donated to the National Institute on Drug Abuse to fund addiction research and public awareness.
Why it matters
The initiative seeks to leverage the broad reach of the postal network to drive financial support toward critical drug research. By focusing on themes of care and community support, the stamp aims to destigmatize discussions surrounding the ongoing overdose crisis.
Approximately 80,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. annually involve fentanyl. This follows a 2023 reporting period where the country experienced a more than 30 percent decline in fentanyl-related fatalities compared to the previous year.
The players
U.S. Postal Service
This independent agency provides postal services to approximately 170 million addresses across the country.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
This research institute supports scientific efforts to understand and treat drug abuse and addiction.
Whitney Sherman
She is the illustrator who designed the visual artwork for the fentanyl awareness stamp.
National Institutes of Health
This federal agency served as the host venue for the official stamp dedication ceremony in Bethesda, MD.
The details
Illustrated by Whitney Sherman, the stamp design features a central figure supported by a group, purposefully avoiding the use of pill imagery. The Postal Service will transfer net proceeds, calculated as sales revenue minus postage and reimbursement costs, directly to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Timeline
In 2023, the U.S. recorded a decrease in drug overdose deaths.
Data from 2024 revealed a significant decline in fentanyl-related fatalities.
The U.S. Postal Service issued the stamp on October 6, 2026.
Deeper Dive
This release follows the established precedent of the 1997 Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act, which pioneered the use of semipostal stamps to channel consumer purchases into designated federal health research programs.
The stamp is available for purchase nationwide, offering citizens a way to contribute financially to addiction research through their daily mail habits. While the stamp costs more than standard postage, the extra funds go directly toward federal support programs for substance abuse.
The takeaway
The stamp serves as a symbolic and financial bridge connecting everyday mail users to national addiction research efforts. By choosing to use these stamps, individuals provide tangible support to scientific institutions working to reduce overdose fatalities.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in the Substance Abuse section.
More information
You can purchase stamps through The Postal Store to support this initiative.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gold Rush Cam.
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