Fentanyl is killing kids

Natural High is a youth drug prevention nonprofit. We offer a variety of videos and tools that are used to support parents and educators in their efforts to prevent drug use. The Natural High program has three easy steps to implementation: 1. Watch one of our 40+ engaging influencer (we call them “Storytellers”) videos with kids. 2. Discuss as a class or family using our discussion guides to facilitate a thoughtful conversation. 3. Go deeper with an engaging activity. Each video has specific activities tied to the story that naturally follow the discussion. Our content is all aligned to Common Core and National Health Educator Standards.

Fentanyl is a potent prescription synthetic opioid drug approved by the FDA for pain relief and anesthetic. Prescription opioids are powerful drugs with a high risk for dependency. Fentanyl is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. A lethal dose of fentanyl is the size of 2 grains of salt.

While you should be concerned about all youth substance use, fentanyl is different because it’s so deadly. According to data from the CDC, in 2020 there was a 560% increase in overdose deaths fueled by fentanyl. In the illicit drug market, fentanyl is being mixed with other drugs, such as cocaine, oxycodone, and Adderall. Criminal drug networks are flooding the market with fake pills and other drugs laced with fentanyl. Kids aren’t intentionally looking for fentanyl, and they’re unaware it’s been added to the substances they’re seeking. As a result, kids are being poisoned by fentanyl at a staggering rate. 

Fake prescription pills and other illicit substances are easily accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms making them available to anyone with a smartphone, including minors. Those at risk include casual users, partygoers, experimenters, regular users, and even unsuspecting bystanders who may come into contact with the powerful opioid. 

Education is a key part of helping today’s youth make healthy choices. They need accurate information from trusted sources. That’s why your role is so crucial when it comes to the fentanyl crisis. Neither kids today nor their parents are aware of the growing dangers of fentanyl poisoning. Research has shown that kids who have opportunities to discuss the harms of drug use with caring adults fare much better. So, we encourage you to both watch the film together and have a discussion using the questions we created in the Natural High Fentanyl Toolkit. Even if substance use is the last thing you need to worry about with your kid or your students, perhaps their awareness could save a friend.