With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths attributable to drug overdose amongst adolescents greater than doubled, primarily pushed by the synthetic opioid, fentanyl. Nationwide survey knowledge present that whereas the % of adolescents (ages 12-17) with a previous yr substance use dysfunction decreased from 2021 to 2024, the share of adolescents with a previous yr opioid use dysfunction remained steady over the identical interval. Moreover, lower than one-third of adolescents with a previous yr opioid use dysfunction reported receiving any remedy. In recent times, many colleges have integrated measures to deal with the fentanyl crisis. Additional, almost 7 in 10 adolescents reported receiving substance use dysfunction and prevention training at college and over 480,000 adolescents obtained substance use remedy at college in 2023, underscoring how colleges can function an entry level for these providers amongst youth.
This evaluation examines traits in drug overdose deaths amongst adolescents from the most recent knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and explores the steps public colleges took within the 2024-2025 college yr to fight drug overdose attributable to fentanyl by drawing upon survey knowledge from the School Pulse Panel.1 The Faculty Pulse Panel is a examine by the Nationwide Middle for Training Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau that surveys colleges month-to-month on a wide range of subjects, together with drug overdose prevention providers.
Whole drug overdose loss of life charges amongst adolescents sharply elevated alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier than slowing in 2023; with the quickest will increase in these deaths seen amongst kids of shade (Determine 1). In 2019, 1.1 per 100,000 adolescents (or 282 adolescents complete) died by drug overdose, earlier than rising to 2.8 in 2022 (or 721 adolescents complete). Though there was a latest decline, drug overdose loss of life charges stay larger than pre-pandemic charges (1.7 in 2024 or 441 adolescents complete). White adolescents proceed to account for the biggest share of adolescent drug overdose deaths (50% in 2024); nevertheless, Black and Hispanic adolescents have skilled the quickest improve in these deaths in recent times.
Amongst public colleges within the 2024-2025 college yr, almost 3 out of 4 public college directors reported that some or all of their employees are educated to acknowledge a drug overdose. Particularly, 30% of directors reported that each one of their academics and employees are educated and 44% of directors reported that a few of their academics and employees are educated (Determine 2). Nonetheless, 16% of directors reported that none of their employees are educated.
Fifty-two % of public colleges reported providing fentanyl training to college students within the 2024-2025 college yr utilizing a number of strategies (Determine 3). The commonest sort of fentanyl training is offered by classroom instruction (30%), adopted by college assemblies (22%) and occasions held for college households (22%).
Seventy-seven % of public colleges reported storing naloxone – a nasal spray to reverse opioid overdose – on campus (Determine 4). In mild of the fentanyl disaster, measures have been taken to enhance access to naloxone. An analysis of huge college districts throughout the U.S. discovered that by 2023, there was a rise within the % of districts stocking naloxone; nevertheless, some districts didn’t have plans to take action. Presently, a number of states, together with Illinois, Rhode Island, Washington, and Arkansas, have mandates for colleges to inventory naloxone. California’s Department of Health Care Services gives naloxone at no cost to varsities by an software course of. Many different states advocate or not less than permit colleges to inventory naloxone on campus and administer if wanted.
Some colleges are extra doubtless than others to retailer naloxone – for instance, colleges with fewer college students of shade have been extra prone to retailer naloxone than colleges with a better inhabitants of scholars of shade (Determine 4). Particularly, colleges by which lower than 25% of scholars have been college students of shade have been extra prone to retailer naloxone than colleges by which greater than 75% of scholars have been college students of shade (79% vs. 71%). That is per research that suggests that in comparison with White folks, Black folks might have restricted entry to naloxone. Related traits in colleges storing naloxone have been seen with colleges in decrease poverty neighborhoods in comparison with larger poverty neighborhoods (78% vs. 72%), center and excessive colleges in comparison with elementary colleges (82% and 89%, vs. 69%), and colleges with 1,000 or extra college students in comparison with smaller-sized colleges.
Amongst college employees, nurses, safety personnel, and administrative employees are most probably to be educated to manage naloxone within the case of an emergency (Determine 5). Within the 2024-2025 college yr, 1% of public colleges reported that naloxone was administered at college or throughout a college occasion.
