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The findings, published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, highlight the growing threat posed by the deadly synthetic opioid, particularly as counterfeit pills flood the illicit market.
The study examined nonfatal fentanyl exposures reported to US poison centers from 2015 to 2023, analyzing cases involving children and adolescents aged 0–19.
Researchers found a dramatic increase in poisonings, with the number of reported cases jumping from 69 in 2015 to 893 in 2023.
Teen Misuse, Accidental Poisonings In Young Children
Among the 3,009 reported cases, 58.9 percent involved teens aged 13–19, while 41.1 percent involved children aged 0–12. The study found stark differences in how each age group was exposed:
Young children (0–12): 81.7 percent of cases were unintentional, with many involving accidental ingestion of fentanyl.
Teenagers (13–19): 65.7 percent of cases resulted from misuse or abuse, with teens intentionally using the drug, often in counterfeit pill form.
Ingestion was the most common method of exposure, accounting for 76.9 percent of cases in children and 54.1 percent in teens.
Life-Threatening Consequences
Alarmingly, 41 percent of all cases resulted in major, life-threatening effects.
Researchers warn that the rapid rise in pediatric fentanyl exposure underscores the urgent need for prevention efforts, increased awareness, and harm reduction strategies.
With counterfeit pills containing fentanyl making up nearly half of all illicit fentanyl seizures in 2023, experts stress the importance of educating parents, caregivers, and teens about the dangers of exposure.
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