What Youth Need to Know About the Fentanyl Crisis

Inspired by Journalist Sam Quinones, former reporter for the Los Angeles Times and author of The Least of Us and Dream Land 

 Your Future Matters! 

What is Fentanyl? 

Fentanyl is a super-strong drug that is much more powerful than regular pain medicine. It’s so strong that even a tiny amount can be dangerous. Some people take it without knowing, and that can lead to serious problems. 

Journalist Sam Quinones describes how counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl have flooded the market, replacing older forms of drug distribution: “Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and made in Mexico now dominate the market and have replaced the sloppy Magic Bullet blender in a dealer’s kitchen.” (Quinones, NIH Record). 

Why Is It So Dangerous? 

Fentanyl is addictive, meaning people who take it might feel like they need more and more just to feel normal. Quinones explains that fentanyl works so fast that people use it over and over just to function. He also emphasizes the difficulty of overcoming addiction, stating: “An addicted brain is one where a raging primitive reward system has silenced the prefrontal cortex's wise counsel.” (Quinones, Trust for America’s Health). 

Sadly, many teens and young adults have overdosed because they took fake pills that looked like regular medicine but had fentanyl inside. 

How Do People Get Fentanyl? 

Drug cartels make fentanyl using chemicals from other countries. They mix it into fake pills or other drugs, so people don’t even know they’re taking it until it’s too late.  

What Can Be Done?  

Some medicines, like Narcan, can help reverse an overdose, but they don’t fix the problem completely. Quinones warns that people are saved from overdoses but then left without help to recover. 

One solution is creating recovery centers inside jails, where people can get clean and learn life skills. Quinones highlights this approach, noting that “We live in a time when drug traffickers behave like multinational corporations and corporations behave like traffickers.” (Quinones, USC Center for Health Journalism). Places like Denver, Colorado, Miami-Dade, Florida, and Kentucky have started recovery programs, and they are showing promising results. 

Why Should You Care? 

Even if you don’t use drugs, fentanyl can still be around you. You might see pills at parties, hear friends talk about painkillers that didn’t come from a doctor, or see risky drug trends on social media. 

Many people who take fentanyl don’t mean to—they just don’t know it’s there. 

Stay Safe and Spread the Word 

Education is just as important as laws. Quinones believes that learning about fentanyl and sharing information can help save lives. 

Check out the #DontRiskItAll toolkit for resources to help spread the word! 

Sources: 

• Quinones, Sam. Sequel Examines Changing Addiction Crisis – NIH Record 

• Quinones, Sam. Q&A with Author Sam Quinones – Trust for America's Health 

• Quinones, Sam. America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth – USC Center for Health Journalism