The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that illegally made fentanyl was involved in 75 percent of overdose deaths among Americans ages 10 to 19 between 2020 and 2024, as the federal government marked the fifth annual National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day on August 21.
The agency said many teens do not realize that counterfeit pills can contain fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Illegally made fentanyl can be mixed into other drugs or pressed into counterfeit pills that look like prescription medications, increasing the chance of unintentional exposure. Even small amounts of the drug can be lethal.
The CDC said parents and caregivers play a critical role in prevention. The agency recommends that adults have early and frequent conversations with young people about the risks of counterfeit pills, illegally made fentanyl, mental health, and peer pressure. These conversations do not require crisis circumstances to begin, the agency said.
The CDC offers resources for families and communities, including its Free Mind campaign for ages 12 to 17, Stop Overdose prevention materials, the Drug-Free Communities grant program, and support for the Overdose Data to Action program in 90 jurisdictions.