The Rise of Fentanyl: What Parents Should Know to Keep Their Kids Safe
In recent years, concern over fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that often proves lethal, has been on the rise. Many tragic stories involve young people overdosing. For instance, a Texas teen died after taking a fentanyl-laced pill that she thought was Percocet, and even Robert De Niro’s 19-year-old grandson suffered an accidental fentanyl overdose. The FBI further seized over 200 pounds of drugs, including 280,000 Percocet pills and 20 pounds of pink heart-shaped pills that were suspected to contain fentanyl. A recent UCLA study revealed that fentanyl-related overdoses have spiked 50-fold since 2010. This crisis is significantly impacting children and teens, with a staggering 3,000% increase in fentanyl-related opioid deaths among children over the past decade. The data also shows that 1,800 teens died from fentanyl use between July 2019 and December 2021, and in 2021 alone, 133 children under the age of 5 lost their lives due to fentanyl.
But how are kids coming into contact with fentanyl? According to Zac Clark, founder of Release Recovery, a substance use disorder and mental health organization, any pill not directly from a pharmaceutical company has the potential to contain fentanyl. This now includes a variety of fake pills, such as Xanax, Adderall, Ecstasy, and even substances like cocaine and meth that may harbor traces of fentanyl. Pediatric emergency medicine physician Dr. Ashley Saucier warns that children often encounter fentanyl in their homes, due to drug abuse by someone in the household or from visitation by relatives who bring along drugs containing the substance. She tells Yahoo Life that even toddlers inadvertently picking up fentanyl-laced substances could suffer dire consequences due to its potency.
How should parents address this issue with their kids? Dr. Saucier suggests educating themselves and having open and honest conversations about the dangers of fentanyl. And it’s not just first-time drug users who are at risk— even people experimenting with drugs can be affected by fentanyl.
Parents should also communicate openly with their kids about the risks of taking pills. Saucier recommends informing children about the dangers of accepting pills or loose gummies from classmates, especially as they get older. Moreover, parents should emphasize the importance of never sharing medications, except for those prescribed or closely regulated by a parent.
Clark and Saucier also urge parents to have Narcan nasal spray and fentanyl test strips on hand. These measures, along with ongoing dialogue with one’s children, are critical to keeping them safe from this pervasive threat. Furthermore, Clark stresses the need for parents to keep a watchful eye for telltale signs that their children might be using drugs, and to be prepared to administer Narcan and seek professional help in the event of a suspected overdose.
In light of the ongoing crisis, remaining informed and proactive is key. With proper education and resources, parents play a vital role in safeguarding their children against the dangers of fentanyl.
