
Fentanyl and its Deadly Dangers

A new threat is surging in the drug world: Fentanyl. Drug overdose numbers are rising in the U.S., with the total number exceeding 100,000 for the first time in 2021 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioids like fentanyl are responsible for more than 60% of those overdose deaths, making it one of the most dangerous drugs out there.
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid. It is 50 times more potent than heroin and 50-100 times more powerful than morphine. The lethal dose is said to be two milligrams, which is roughly the same amount as 10-15 grains of salt.
There are two types of fentanyl, pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was designed for pain management, especially for cancer patients or to treat post-surgery pain. There are rarely deaths involving pharmaceutical fentanyl unless it is misused. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous.
What does fentanyl look like?
Fentanyl has many different forms. On its own, it can be found in powder form, where it looks similar to cocaine or heroin, or liquid form, where it can be used as eyedrops, nasal spray, or dropped onto a blotting paper.
Because of its potency, it is easy to get high from a very small amount of fentanyl. This makes it addictive for anyone who takes it and cheap for dealers to produce. Dealers take advantage of this by mixing fentanyl into other illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine, driving their profits up. Fentanyl has also been commonly found mixed into pain pills, such as Oxycodone and Norco, as well as Xanax, which is a prescription medication for anxiety.
Fake prescription pills are becoming extremely prevalent across the U.S. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a Public Safety Alert about the issue in September of 2021, stating that from January-September 2021, they seized 9.6 million counterfeit pills, most of which contained fentanyl or meth. This nine-month amount was more than the previous two years combined.
The fact that fentanyl can be hidden in other drugs makes it extremely dangerous, because many people take fentanyl without even realizing it. Anyone who uses any substance is at risk of being exposed to fentanyl.
A new danger for teens
Fentanyl poses a danger to everyone, even teens and children. A rising threat in schools is a new phenomenon known as rainbow fentanyl.
Rainbow fentanyl is fentanyl being sold in the form of colorful powder or pills that look like candy. In a press release about the issue, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram said, “Rainbow fentanyl—fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes—is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults.” In August 2022, rainbow fentanyl was found by law enforcement in 18 different states.
Stories of teens overdosing on fentanyl are becoming common. The organization A Song for Charlie was founded to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl after 22-year-old Charlie Ternan overdosed on fentanyl three weeks before his college graduation. Charlie took a pill he believed to be Percocet, a pain reliever, for his back pain. The pill was actually fentanyl, and he died within 30 minutes.
Social media is also becoming an increasingly popular drug market for teens, especially with opioids like fentanyl. Sometimes teens don't even know what they're buying, but they end up seriously injured or dead.
Teens are at risk if they take any pill or substance and do not know what is in it. The DEA warns that any pill that does not come from a doctor or pharmacy should not be taken, as it is impossible to tell if it has fentanyl or another substance in it without lab testing.
Fentanyl addiction and overdose
Fentanyl is an addictive drug, and its withdrawal symptoms are similar to those of other opioids. Some symptoms include:
- Severe cravings
- Restless sleep or trouble sleeping
- Weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle spasms or bone pain
- And more
The CDC identify the symptoms of a fentanyl overdose, including:
- Constricted pupils
- Loss of consciousness
- Slow, weak, or no breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Cold and/or clammy skin
- Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)
Read more from the CDC here.
If you or someone you know has taken fentanyl and could be overdosing, call 911 so they can receive medical help. If you are worried about legal ramifications, many states have a policy called the 911 Good Samaritan Law. Under this law, if you call 911 in the case of a drug overdose, neither you nor the person overdosing will be charged legally.
What can you do?
Contrary to popular belief, fentanyl can only affect someone if it is absorbed directly into the body, not simply by being near or touching the drug. This means you can protect yourself simply by refusing to take a drug if you do not know what is in it.
Keep yourself and others safe by refusing to take unknown substances, and by speaking out about the dangers of drugs like fentanyl.
View more resources like this.


TikTok's New Binge Drinking Trend
Binge drinking is all the rage with BORGs, a new alcohol concoction.
Read Article
From Opioids to Heroin - Samantha's Story
An all-too-familiar story of prescribed medications leading to deadly addiction.
Watch Video
Prom Night Perils
How can you help teens stay safe on prom night? Keep reading to find out.
Read Article
Vaping for Stress Relief
Why do teens vape? Mental health plays a big part in their reasoning.
Read Article
THE DANGERS OF TEEN VAPING: THIS FREE GUIDE EXPLAINS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
A new generation of nicotine addicts have easy access to vaping, and they don't know the risks.
Read Article
Parents are Letting their Kids Drink Now More than Ever
Learn why parents have been easing up on alcohol rules, and the consequences they don't know they're bringing on.
Read Article
I spy with my little eye… a teen on marijuana?
There are ways to spot marijuana use in teens. Learn about some here.
Read Article
How-to: Cannabis Dialogue with Teens
Approaching your teen about serious topics can be hard. This gives you a good place to start.
Read Article

Cannabis: More Accessible and More Dangerous
Learn about the dangers of the wide-spread drug, cannabis
Read Article
Teens are getting more than “Likes” from social media
The drug market might be following your teen home.
Read Article
Vaping: The Most Popular Gateway Activity
Vaping paves the pathway to other addictions for young nicotine users.
Read Article

"We Turned Out Okay": That Doesn't Mean Your Kids Will
How a WWII study proves this parenting theory wrong
Read Article
The Consequences of Laughing Gas Aren't so Funny
Learn about nitrous oxide and its popularity with teens.
Read Article
What teens think they know about substances (and what they don’t)
Substance misuse is growing among teens. Learn some of the factors, and what you can do about them.
Read Article
The impact of impaired driving: Why substances make for unsafe roads
Learn about the various types of impaired driving and the dangers they create.
Read Article
Changing the terms of addiction medicine: What you say counts
Read about the ways language around addiction is changing.
Read Article
How to spot the signs of teen substance misuse
All teens are at risk of falling into substance misuse. Learn how to spot the signs and what to do about them.
Read Article
The Pandemic Behind the Pandemic: How COVID-19 Has Impacted Roadway Safety
Learn why alcohol impaired driving has been on the rise, and what you can do to stop it.
Read Article
Be Careful Out There, Teens!
A look at how alcohol affects the developing brains of teenagers.
Watch Video
Greene County Tobacco/Vaping :30 - #1
This product was supported by SAMHSA grant funding.
Watch Video
Teen Perspectives on Alcohol
Real talk from real teens on avoiding alcohol in high school.
Watch Video
Safe & Sober Vaping Education - 2021
We break down the science and social factors of nicotine addiction.
Watch Video


Underage Drinking - A Police Perspective
Law enforcement officers talk about their experiences with underage drinkers.
Watch Video
30 FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL
Healthline's Carly Vandergriendt shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about alcohol.
Read Article


Toni Anderson's Story
The story of one young life cut short by a dangerous decision and tragic circumstances.
Watch Video
Think boys drink more? Think again.
Bro! For the first time ever, teenage girls now consume more alcohol than their male peers. Read why this flip of the alcohol gender gap has serious implications.
Read Article

When teens drink, they drink a lot
Why binge drinking is a prevalent issue among teens, and how you can prevent it
Read Article

Helping Students Navigate the New Normal
Pandemic Disruptions Continue for Students and Families
Read Article

Don't Throw it Away
The decision to drink and drive can impact your future and put lives in danger. Choose to say no.
Watch Video
Choose to be Safe and Sober
For your family. For your friends. For your future. For you.
Watch Video

WOULD YOU RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY?
Many teens are still struggling with emotional challenges as the world moves on from COVID-19. Our featured guest contributor breaks down some of the warning signs.
Read Article
OPIOIDS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Opioid prescriptions are often misused. Safety is a top priority.
Read Article
COVID-19 AND THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
Middle and high school students have been in the center of a mental health crisis for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought the situation into sharp focus.
Read Article

A PARENT’S GUIDE TO DEPRESSION IN TEENAGERS
Start the conversation about mental health with your teen.
Read Article
HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT ALCOHOL?
The earlier you can start the conversation, the better.
Read Article