Earlier this month, a Washington mother was arrested and charged with manslaughter after blood tests confirmed that her 5-year-old son died after ingesting fentanyl in March. In December 2024, a 10-year-old California boy also died after ingesting fentanyl. An adult in his household was charged with felony child endangerment, but the boy’s mother recently started a petition demanding that the adult who brought fentanyl into her home be charged with murder. Articles about the deaths were shared widely on social media, where they received thousands of views and hundreds of reactions and comments. Most commenters expressed heartbreak and called for harsher penalties for adults who expose children to fentanyl. Many also emphasized the importance of early drug education.
Recommendation
In response to discussions about children dying after ingesting fentanyl, communicators may explain that opioids—including both prescription medications and illicit drugs—should be locked away from children and teens. Unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter medications can be dropped off at a drug take-back location. Local, authorized drug take-back locations can be found using the Drug Enforcement Administration’s search tool. If there are no drug take-back locations nearby and drug mail-back envelopes are unavailable, some medications, including some opioids, can be flushed down a toilet. The FDA’s flush list provides an overview of which medications can be flushed. Communicators may also share tips for caregivers who are talking to children and teens about medication safety and drug use.
Fact-checking sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, Nemours KidsHealth
