Many people may not know about fentanyl and its legitimate uses, but it’s helpful - and potentially lifesaving - to know what makes it so dangerous and what can be used to reverse its effects.

All of this comes as parents and caregivers are increasingly concerned about fentanyl poisonings among teens and young adults who unknowingly consume fentanyl-laced pills illegally sold under the guise of a less powerful drug. In 2022, the US Drug Enforcement Administration seized over 50 million fake prescription pills and more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl.

Overdoses and poisoning are the third leading cause of death in kids and adolescents age 19 and younger. Synthetic opioids, primarily involving the powerful drug fentanyl, are the main driver of overdose deaths, with nearly a 7.5-fold increase overall from 2015 to 2021, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2021, more than 106,000 Americans lost their lives to drug-involved overdoses - including more than 1,100 teens that year alone. The United States is facing a crisis of overdose deaths.

Morphine antidote