April 8, 2025 from DATAC
Children Are the New Victims of the Opioid Crisis
A new study reveals a shocking rise in pediatric fentanyl exposures — up over 1,100% in just eight years.
Researchers analyzed more than 3,000 reports to U.S. poison control centres from 2015 to 2023. In 2015, there were 69 reported cases. By 2023, that number had soared to 893.
And it’s not just accidental.
Most Teen Exposures Are Intentional
Adolescents aged 13–19 made up the bulk of cases, and nearly two-thirds (65.7%) were tied to deliberate drug misuse or abuse.
Many of these teens were also exposed to cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol.
In contrast, among children 12 and under, most cases (81.7%) were unintentional — often from ingesting fentanyl-laced pills at home. In many cases, they simply didn’t know what they were touching.
Why the Spike? Blame Counterfeit Pills
Illicit pills made to look like real medications are flooding the U.S. drug market. Easy to mistake and highly potent, they’re putting both teens and toddlers at risk.
“Given that severity of nonfatal exposures increased, it is unknown to what extent emergency response prevented possible death,”
the study authors wrote.
Naloxone (Narcan), the overdose-reversing drug, is now being administered to children as young as 15 months.
From Close Calls to Fatal Outcomes
The increase in poisonings is part of a wider pattern. Fentanyl-related deaths in children rose more than 30-fold from 2013 to 2021.
A Canadian study published in Pediatrics & Child Health found that fentanyl was responsible for 80% of pediatric opioid deaths.
What Parents and Communities Can Do
Experts say prevention efforts need to catch up — and fast. The study recommends:
- Raising awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pills
- Safely storing and disposing of medications at home
- Teaching youth about opioid risks
- Expanding access to naloxone and overdose response training
“Pediatric exposures to fentanyl are increasing and over one-third of cases are unintentional and/or had documented life-threatening effects,”
the researchers concluded.
This Crisis Isn’t Skipping the Youngest Generation
Fentanyl is no longer just an adult issue — it’s now showing up in baby bottles and backpacks. As exposures rise, coordinated action from parents, schools, health professionals, and lawmakers is urgently needed.
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