Fentanyl Dinner Talk? Tips for talking with your family or student

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Talking with your student about fentanyl can help them practice safer habits and be prepared to help a friend in case of an emergency.

Like other hard conversations, it’s important to create a safe space for your student to ask questions or come to you if they need support in the future. Remember to focus on listening to your student’s perspective and experience without judgment. If you need clarification, ask follow-up questions. Finally, be sure to let your student know that you want to have this conversation with them because you care about them. It’s okay to be vulnerable and share that you are worried about their safety or that you’ve seen troubling fentanyl-related stories in the news that give you cause for concern.

Here are some additional tips you can share with your student to help keep them safer. Please note that due to the unpredictability of fentanyl, there is no foolproof way to eliminate the risk of overdose.

Be safe, not sorry

If your student chooses to use, encourage them to assume that any pill or drug not purchased directly from a pharmacy could contain fentanyl. This includes illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, meth, etc.) as well as prescription medications (Xanax, Oxycodone, etc.).

Remind your student that if they purchase prescriptions or other drugs from a friend or acquaintance, they should start with a very small dose (such as a quarter of a pill). It’s important to know that some pills contain pure fentanyl while others may have fentanyl mixed in, so the amount present in a single pill or drug can vary greatly. One pill may be fine, and the next may not be.

Be prepared to call for help

Talk to your student about the signs of a potential overdose and encourage them to call for help anytime someone is passed out or unresponsive.