A newly published national study is raising concerns about how adolescents perceive the dangers of fentanyl. Researchers found that many middle and high school students significantly underestimate the risks associated with fentanyl use, despite the drug’s role in the overwhelming majority of adolescent opioid overdose deaths.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from the 2025 Monitoring the Future survey, a nationally representative survey of eighth-, tenth-, and twelfth-grade students. The findings revealed that 52% of eighth-grade students did not consider trying fentanyl once or twice to be highly dangerous. Even among older students, risk perception remained lower than expected, with approximately 30% of twelfth graders failing to view experimenting with fentanyl as carrying great risk.

These findings are particularly concerning because fentanyl is involved in at least three out of every four adolescent overdose deaths in the United States. Researchers noted that many young people may not fully appreciate that even a single exposure can be fatal, especially when fentanyl is unknowingly mixed into counterfeit pills or other illicit substances.

For CASACs, the study reinforces the importance of prevention, education, and honest conversations with youth and families. Traditional fear-based messaging alone is unlikely to be effective. Instead, counselors can provide clear, evidence-based information about counterfeit pills, accidental fentanyl exposure, overdose recognition, naloxone, and harm reduction strategies while creating opportunities for open dialogue with adolescents.

The findings also highlight an important opportunity for schools, parents, prevention professionals, and behavioral health providers to work together to improve fentanyl education before experimentation occurs. Increasing awareness of the real risks associated with fentanyl may help prevent future overdoses and encourage young people to make safer decisions.

As New York continues responding to the evolving overdose crisis, this study serves as another reminder that prevention begins with accurate information. CASACs remain on the front lines of educating individuals, families, and communities about the dangers of today’s illicit drug supply.

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MedicalXpress: US Teens Underestimate Risks of Fentanyl Use, Survey Finds