As more teens overdose on fentanyl, schools face a drug crisis unlike any other

This post was written by Ojas Gupta,

Based on article by Elissa Nadworny & Lee V. Gaines, NPR

Article last edited on August 30, 2023

As fentanyl overdose deaths among teens rise, schools face an ever-growing drug crisis. Teens like Griffin Hoffmann, Sienna Vaughn, and Laird Ramirez died after taking counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. Fentanyl was involved in 84% of all teen overdose deaths in 2021, and these deaths nearly tripled from 2019 to 2021.

Schools are responding by stocking naloxone and updating drug awareness programs. However, challenges remain as many students use social media to obtain counterfeit pills. Experts suggest that education and harm reduction strategies directed to teens are crucial. This includes promoting test strips to detect fentanyl, although these are illegal in some states.

Efforts by families and organizations, like Project 1 Life and Song for Charlie, emphasize peer-to-peer education and using social media to spread awareness. They advocate for modernizing drug education and focusing on the deceptive practices of drug dealers. The involvement of the entire community, including parents, educators, and policymakers, is essential to respond to this crisis effectively.