Fentanyl is the drug most likely to kill kids born 1997 or later. But what IS fentanyl and how do people get caught up in it?
Credit: Photo by Mat Napo
Fentanyl Parent Awareness Report
In 2020, 76% of overdose deaths among people aged 12 to 23 involved a synthetic, illicit opioid called fentanyl.
Gen Z youth – born 1997 or later – are the most likely age group to be killed by fentanyl overdose or poisoning. Fentanyl is involved in 79% of Gen Z drug deaths. That’s part of the reason that youth drug deaths have quadrupled over the last 20 years.
More than 107,000 Americans died from drug overdose in 2021, and that number is expected to rise once 2022 deaths have been calculated. Most of those overdose deaths were from fentanyl poisoning.
But what IS fentanyl, anyway?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. (Its deadly “cousin,” Carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer, is about 100 times more potent than fentanyl. And it’s becoming more and more popular.)
Prescription fentanyl is a legitimate medication produced by pharmaceutical companies for the treatment of SEVERE pain. Legitimate prescription fentanyl is produced with strict quality control measures in place so that it can be safely used when taken as prescribed by a doctor. Most fentanyl deaths do NOT involve pharmaceutical fentanyl.
The illicit fentanyl that kills people is made by drug dealers with no safety controls in place and then mixed into pills, other powders, blotter papers, eye drops, nasal sprays and other liquids.
A deadly dose of fentanyl is about the size of a few grains of sand. You can’t see it or taste it or smell it. How would you know if it is mixed into the Xanax you bought from an online “pharmacy” or the cocaine you got from your friend?
Fentanyl binds to the body’s opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. Its effects include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, unconsciousness, coma, and death.
A fentanyl overdose makes a person stop breathing, which decreases the flow of oxygen to the brain. This can lead to a coma and permanent brain damage, or death. While an overdose may not cause death, it can cause permanent impairment and destroy the ability to live an independent, productive life.
How prevalent is fentanyl?
Forty percent of counterfeit pills tested by the DEA contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. Taking even one pill is more deadly than playing Russian Roulette.
People who buy familiar medications on the street or through social media may end up with a “fentapill” instead. Your kid – seeking a familiar anxiety or pain pill they’ve been prescribed before – might end up instead with a deadly dose of fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a highly addictive opioid, which means that people crave it in spite of the risks. It’s cheap to make and cheap to buy, so drug dealers love it.
Reducing opioid risks in your home
Parents are powerful. Talking with your kids about the risks of drugs or alcohol have been shown to deter or delay their use. Our Parent Awareness Report called “Reducing the risks and talking with your teens” can help you have calm and constructive conversations with your kids.
Keep your ear to the ground for fentanyl street slang including “Apache, China girl, China town, dance fever, friend, goodfellas, great bear, he-man, jackpot, king ivory, murder 8, poison, tango and cash and TNT.” If you overhear these terms in your teen’s conversations, reach out for help immediately.
If you suspect fentanyl abuse in your household, consider getting some fentanyl test strips. They are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm. These small strips of paper can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables). Note: in about half of the states in the USA, fentanyl test strips are considered drug paraphernalia and can carry criminal penalties. And the test strips aren’t 100% accurate unless you test the entire pill or drug.
If you spot these signs of overdose, call 911 immediately:
- Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness
- Slowed or stopped breathing
- Snoring or gurgling sounds
- Cold or clammy skin
- Blue lips or fingernails
Keep naloxone (commonly known as “Narcan®”) on hand to reverse an overdose, and know how to use it. If you aren’t familiar with naloxone, contact your local harm reduction or substance abuse agency for assistance.
The bottom line? Or the end of the line?
Talk with your kids about the very real risks of fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl can lurk in the street drugs that are considered “safe” to try. And unless a pill is prescribed by a licensed medical professional and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy, you can’t know if it’s real, or if it’s a real killer.