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Talk to
teens about
fentanyl

Friends play a big role in teens’ lives, but your teens are still looking to you for guidance. Talk to them about the risks of fake pills and fentanyl. Because to them, you're the expert.

Get the guide
Guardian speaking to teen in a kitchen.

What you
need to know

We can all help the people we care about stay safe. Understanding how fentanyl has reshaped today’s illegal drug market is the first step. Before you talk to your teen, learn the facts about fentanyl.

illustration of guardian talking to teen on couch.

In 2023, 83% of all overdose deaths in Washington involved opioids like fentanyl.

Fentanyl has no unique look, taste, or smell to identify it.

Legal (regulated) fentanyl is used in medical settings to manage pain during major surgeries or cancer treatments.

Illegal fentanyl can be a powder, but it is often pressed into pills. These fake pills look like real prescription medications.

People have accidentally overdosed thinking they took OxyContin, Adderall, Percocet, or Xanax.

Fake, fentanyl-laced pills are often sold online through social media.

Illegally made fentanyl is unpredictable. Any amount can be enough to cause an overdose or death.

What to do

Pick a time and a place where you can both focus. 

Think car rides, mealtimes, and other everyday moments. 

Ask open-ended questions and really listen.

In fact, plan to listen more than you talk. Avoid giving a lecture.

Stay calm and non-judgmental.

Nothing shuts down a conversation faster than feeling judged.

Avoid scare tactics. They don’t work.

Feeling afraid gets in the way of learning new information. Focus on being informative.

Tell them how much you care.

Teens need to know this conversation is coming from a place of love.

Keep the conversation going.

Several short conversations work better than one “Big Talk.” Keep checking in and sharing information.

Guardian talks to teen in car.

What to say

“Have you heard about a drug called fentanyl? What have you heard?

Why: You can learn what they’ve heard and share what you know.

“I read an article/saw a video/heard a report about fentanyl and wanted to talk with you about it.” 

Why: Timely news gives you a chance to bring up the topic and share information. 

“I know pills might seem safe to take from your friend — or even a grown-up — but some can cause an overdose or death.” 

Why: You can outline the real risks of fake pills and set expectations with your teen about only taking medication that’s been prescribed to them and picked up at a pharmacy. 

“Do you know anyone who might be experimenting with pills? I want you to know how to help them in case of an emergency.” 

Why: You can share information about the signs of an overdose, how to use naloxone, and when to call 911. 

“If you ever have questions about fentanyl — or any drug — talk to me. It’s my job to help you stay safe and healthy.” 

Why: Teens need to know they can come to you with questions, and you’ll be there to help. 

Teach teens refusal skills

Choose one or two ways to refuse and practice them together. That way, they’ll know how to respond to any pressure they may face to try drugs.

Guardian shows photo to a teen, they are sitting on a couch.

Send a signal

Agree on a codeword your teen can text or call you with to come pick them up ASAP. 

Pass the blame

“I’d be grounded for life if my parents (caregivers) found out.” 

Offer an alternative

“I’d rather get a bite to eat instead.”

Make an excuse

“I can’t. I have a huge test/game/audition tomorrow.” 

Be honest

“No, thanks. I’m not interested.” 

Avoid the situation

Avoid going places where drugs are likely to be present. 

FAQS

Opioids are a type of drug used to manage pain. Legal (regulated) opioids are often prescribed following surgeries or injuries or as part of cancer treatments. Illegal (unregulated) opioids are sold online or on the street.

Opioids relieve pain by binding to nerve receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other organs. One side effect can be to depress, or slow down, a person’s breathing. Opioids can be habit-forming. 

Fentanyl is a powerful, fast-acting opioid. It is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Legal fentanyl is regulated. It is used in hospital settings or by prescription to manage pain.

Illegal fentanyl is unregulated. It is extremely unpredictable and can vary in potency based on the maker or the batch. It is usually sold as a pill but can also be sold as a powder. It can also be mixed into other drugs, like cocaine or MDMA, or made to look like a prescription pill.

In fact, a person might not even be seeking an opioid and still come into contact with fentanyl. Fake prescription pills can look like Adderall, Xanax, Percocet, and more. 

Fentanyl does not have a unique look, taste, or smell to identify it. On its own, it may appear white, off-white, or brownish in color—like heroin, cocaine, or pressed pills.

Fake fentanyl-laced pills come in many colors, depending on the color of the real prescription pills they mimic.

It is not possible to tell by a pill or powder’s look, taste, or smell whether it contains fentanyl. It is also not possible to tell if a pill is real or fake unless you pick it up from a pharmacy yourself. 

Fentanyl goes by many names. Some common ones to know are blues, fent, fenty, fetty, mexis, M-30s or 30s, percs, or skittles. Even if a pill or powder isn’t called fentanyl, it can still have fentanyl in it.

Illegal fentanyl is harmful, but medical experts agree you cannot overdose by touching fentanyl. Overdoses happen when fentanyl is ingested (swallowed, snorted, injected, etc.) and enters the bloodstream.

Someone may be overdosing if:

  1. They can’t wake up. Even when you call their name or shake them firmly.
  2. They are breathing very slowly or not at all.
  3. They are turning blue, gray, or purple. Check around their lips and fingernails.
  4. They look ashen or feel cold to the touch.

If you think someone has overdosed, call 911 right away and give them naloxone. Washington state’s Good Samaritan law protects people from prosecution for simple drug possession.

Learn more about the signs of an overdose and what you can do to help.

Some teens take fentanyl knowingly. Many more take it accidentally — mistaking fake pills laced with fentanyl for real prescription OxyContin, Adderall, Xanax, or Percocet.

  1. Mental health – Teens experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or emotional pain may seek out pills to self-medicate. They are likely to use alone.
  2. Physical pain – Teens who are injured or experiencing physical pain may seek out pills to self-medicate.  
  3. Social pressure – Teens may experiment in social settings with peers who are drinking, taking pills, or using other drugs.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. It is available as a nasal spray or intramuscular injection.

Anyone! It’s simple, safe, and legal.

  1. Simple – You do not need special training to give someone naloxone. Read the easy-to-follow instructions on the box or watch this video.  
  2. Safe – If you use naloxone on someone who has not taken opioids, it will not hurt them. If a person has taken opioids, naloxone may cause withdrawal symptoms. They may wake up experiencing body aches, fever, irritability, or nausea, but they will be alive. Naloxone is not habit-forming.
  3. Legal – Washington has a statewide standing order. This means anyone in the state can get, carry, and use naloxone. The standing order helps people with insurance access naloxone for low or no cost. Naloxone is also available to buy over the counter at pharmacies like Rite-Aid, Walgreens, and CVS. Prices range from $40 to $50. Many communities also have resources that make naloxone available for free.

Find a place near you to pick up naloxone. 

Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids. It helps reverse an opioid overdose to wake someone up. Naloxone has no effect on someone who is not on opioids. It does not work to treat the effects of other drugs or alcohol.

Naloxone starts working right away. If you give someone who is overdosing naloxone and see no response within 2-3 minutes, give them another dose. Naloxone wears off within 30-90 minutes. That’s why it’s important to call for emergency medical back-up and not leave until help arrives. Someone can begin to overdose again if the naloxone wears off before they receive medical help. 

Yes, naloxone works on fentanyl. In fact, it is the best way we know of to reverse a fentanyl overdose. Because fentanyl is such a strong opioid, it may take multiple doses of naloxone to reverse an overdose. Wait 2-3 minutes between doses. It does not work any better or faster to administer multiple doses at once.

Naloxone only works to reverse the effects of opioids. It will not reverse the effects of other drugs or alcohol.

Naloxone has no side effects. You cannot hurt someone by giving them naloxone, even if they are not on opioids. That’s why you should always administer naloxone if you think someone is overdosing. It can’t hurt them, but it can save their life.

In Washington state, Good Samaritan laws protect people who call 911 about an opioid overdose from prosecution for simple drug possession. Before these laws existed, many people wouldn’t call 911 for help with an overdose. They were afraid of getting in trouble for having drugs. The goal of Good Samaritan laws is for people to feel secure calling 911 for help in the event of an overdose.