Half of Oregon Teens Don't Know About the Danger of Fake Prescription Pills

Half of Oregon Teens Don't Know About the Danger of Fake Prescription Pills 

A new survey of Oregon parents and youth reveals dangerous knowledge gaps about fentanyl and fake prescription pills. Oregon Ranks 8th Worst in the Nation for Youth Overdose Deaths     Fentanyl has quickly changed the drug landscape. While overall teen drug use is at historic lows, overdose deaths recently reached an all-time high. Many young people who die from fentanyl never meant to take it—illegal drug makers are mixing fentanyl and other dangerous chemicals into fake pills that look like common prescriptions such as Percocet, OxyContin, Xanax and Adderall. Fentanyl and other dangerous chemicals are also being mixed with powdered drugs like cocaine and party pills like molly/MDMA.  The CDC reports that Oregon youth are dying from overdose at the 8th highest rate in the U.S. Drug deaths among Oregon youth increased by 69% from 2019 to 2024, and 85% of those deaths involved fentanyl. To better understand what Oregon families know about this issue, Song for Charlie and The New Drug Talk Oregon surveyed 1,362 Oregon residents, including parents (ages 35–64), young adults (18–24), and teens (13–17) across the state. The results show both progress and urgent gaps in awareness.

 Half of Oregon Teens Don’t Know the Dangers of Fake Prescription Pills    Despite the risks, awareness among Oregon teens is low: 

  • Only 49% of teens know that fentanyl is being used to make counterfeit prescription pills.  

  • Just 54% of teens consider the use of prescription pills without a prescription as a highly serious issue.  

By comparison, young adults show higher awareness:  

  • 80% of young adults are aware that fentanyl is being used to make counterfeit prescription pills. 

  • About 2-in-3 young adults see non-prescribed pill use as highly serious. 

  These numbers point to a clear opportunity: Oregon teens need more information to recognize the dangers and protect themselves and their peers.   1 in 4 Oregon Youth Have Already Misused Prescription Drugs     The survey also revealed concerning behavior: 

  • 25% of teens and 27% of young adults report using prescription drugs without a prescription. 

  • 31% of teens say they are likely to consider using pills without a prescription in the future, compared to just 12% of young adults. 

  • 33% of teens and 35% of young adults have thought about using prescription drugs without a prescription. 

When asked about reasons why people may illegally use prescription medications, teens and young adults most often cited wanting to get “high,” have fun, or party.    Talking Works: Youth Say Conversations Make a Difference The good news is Oregon youth say conversations matter.  

  • 3-in-4 youth—76% of teens and 74% of young adults—say talking with their parents about prescription pill misuse decreased their likelihood of misusing pills. 

When asked who they are most receptive to receiving information about fentanyl and the dangers of fake prescription pills from: 

  • Teens said parents, doctors and teachers. 

  • Young adults said doctors first, followed by friends and parents.   

 Parents Think They’re Talking More Than Teens Recall    Parents overwhelmingly believe they’re having these conversations; 73% said they have talked with their kids about pill misuse. But teens and young adults remember it differently: 

  • Only 47% of teens recall having this conversation with their parents. 

  • Just 35% of young adults recall the same. 

 This gap suggests our kids aren't hearing us the way we think they are. The message needs to be repeated, direct, and specific to today's risks.    Let's keep talking The findings are clear: Oregon youth face real risks from fentanyl and fake prescription pills, yet many don’t fully understand the dangers. At the same time, youth are telling us that conversations work, especially when they come from trusted adults. Your conversations can save your teen's life. Three out of four Oregon youth told us that talking with their parents made them less likely to misuse pills. The solution is to keep talking. It’s not one 60-minute conversation. It’s 60 one-minute conversations. Start tonight with The New Drug Talk conversation tips.   

Understanding the Data [full deck embedded] 

What to Do Next [link to download full report]