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A KFF analysis examined trends in overdose deaths among adolescents (based on CDC data) and the steps public schools took in the 2024-2025 school year to combat fentanyl overdoses (based on the School Pulse Panel).
The findings:
- Overdose death rates among adolescents sharply increased alongside the COVID pandemic, before slowing in 2023, though overdose death rates remain higher than pre-pandemic rates. White adolescents continue to account for the largest share of adolescent overdose deaths, but Black and Hispanic adolescents have experienced the fastest increase in recent years.
- Overdose training: Nearly 3 of 4 public school administrators reported that some or all of their staff are trained to recognize a drug overdose (30% reported that all teachers and staff are trained, 44% reported some, 16% reported none).
- Student education: 52% of public school reported offering fentanyl education to students in the 2024-2025 school year using several methods, including through classroom instruction (30%), school assemblies (22%), and events held for school families (22%).
- Naloxone stock: 77% of public schools reported storing naloxone on campus. Several states have mandates for schools to stock naloxone, some provide naloxone for free to schools, and many others recommend or at least allow schools to stock and administer naloxone. Schools with fewer students of color, in lower poverty neighborhoods, middle and high (vs. elementary), and with 1,000+ students (compared to smaller) were more likely to store naloxone.
- Naloxone training/administration: Nurses, security personnel, and administrative staff were the most likely to be trained to administer naloxone. Only 1% of public schools reported that naloxone was administered at school or during a school event in the 2024-2025 school year.
Published
November 2025