A concerning number of American eighth graders underestimate the dangers of fentanyl, with a substantial portion unaware of its risks or even its existence, according to a recent study. The findings are particularly alarming given that fentanyl is a leading cause of death for children and adolescents.
In a July survey published in JAMA Network Open, only 48% of 13 and 14-year-olds reported that using fentanyl once or twice posed a great risk to their health. This indicates that more than half of the surveyed students did not identify the drug as a significant danger. Some respondents classified fentanyl as only a slight or moderate risk, while over 16% admitted they did not know what fentanyl was.
These perceptions contrast sharply with the reality of fentanyl's impact. The drug is implicated in 75% of adolescent deaths, a statistic that translated to approximately 21 deaths per week in 2023, equivalent to the fatality rate of a typical high school class. In New York, fentanyl was involved in 93% of the 5,300 opiate deaths recorded in 2023, despite a slight overall drop in opiate-related fatalities that year.
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is often mixed into illicit drugs by dealers to increase their potency. This practice, typically unknown to buyers, means users may consume substances laced with fentanyl without their knowledge. Due to its extreme potency, even minimal exposure can lead to fatal overdoses. The illicit drug trade's opaque nature further complicates the issue, as even dealers may unknowingly distribute fentanyl-contaminated products, contributing to accidental overdoses.
The JAMA Network study surveyed 3,820 students across the eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. When asked about the risks of using fentanyl once, twice, occasionally, or regularly, responses included "No risk," "Great risk," or "Don't know what that is."
Awareness and risk perception increased with age. Among tenth graders, 64% considered using fentanyl once or twice a great risk, a figure that rose to 69% among twelfth graders. Similarly, the percentage of students unfamiliar with the drug decreased with age, with 8.9% of tenth graders and 9.9% of seniors reporting they did not know what fentanyl was.
The study also highlighted demographic disparities in risk perception. White students were most likely to perceive fentanyl as dangerous, while Hispanic and Black students were more likely to be unfamiliar with the drug. Students from urban backgrounds were less likely to view fentanyl as a significant risk compared to their rural counterparts. Furthermore, students with college-educated parents were more than twice as likely to report not knowing what fentanyl was (14.7%) compared to those whose parents did not attend college (6.1%).