Drug Enforcement Administration Recommends Including Conversations on Dangers of Drugs in Back to School Routines

OMAHA, Neb. -Students across Nebraska are returning to school this month and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division is reminding families to make time for conversations about the unintended consequences of drug experimentation before kids head out the door for a new year of learning.

Fentanyl and methamphetamine remain the top two drugs seized by DEA investigators in Nebraska. Mexican cartels, namely CJNG and Sinaloa, continue to press pills designed to look like common prescription medications such as Xanax ®, Adderall ® and Oxycodone ®. These fake pills so closely resemble legitimate prescription medications that it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a fentanyl pill and a pharmaceutical. DEA laboratory testing indicates that seven out of every 10 fake pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose, two milligrams, of fentanyl. The only safe medication is one prescribed specifically to you by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.

Methamphetamine is not commonly found at the grade school level, although DEA seizures of the stimulant have been trending upward in Nebraska for five years. Members of law enforcement have seen methamphetamine in crystal, powder and pill form.

Vaping and marijuana use among youth remain topics of concern. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among adolescents aged 12-17 who used marijuana in the past year, more than half vaped marijuana, followed by about one-third who ate or drank marijuana. Families are encouraged to talk about the harmful side effects of vaping while also addressing the consequences of ingesting marijuana edibles.

"A lot of parents often wonder if their kids are listening when they talk," DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. "The truth is, they are. Sit down as a family and talk about the life-altering effects of drugs and the damage they cause to the developing brain, heart and lungs. Your conversation could save a loved one from putting themselves in a dangerous situation."

For more information on how to talk about the dangers of drugs, visit www.JustThinkTwice.govor www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.gov.