Youth Awareness and Perspectives on Fentanyl

Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in youth, but little is known about current youth knowledge and perspectives regarding fentanyl.

Youth across the United States aged 14-24 years were surveyed about their knowledge of and access to fentanyl, as well as their recommendations for decreasing the risks of fentanyl.

Among 560 respondents (response rate = 75%), the average age was 20.3 years (standard deviation [SD] = 2.6), 51.6% self-identified as female, 58.6% White, 32.4% were in high school or a graduate, and 24.4% used Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Most had knowledge of fentanyl (89.6%), with exposure believed to be through illicit means, medical care, or accidental exposure. Youth reported that improved education (51.9%), greater availability of harm reduction resources (31.6%), and open conversations would better protect youth from fentanyl.

Most youth recognize the dangers of fentanyl and expressed a desire for better education, greater access to harm reduction resources, and open discussions about fentanyl.