As students return to classrooms across Florida, experts at Footprints Beachside Recovery Center are warning parents and educators about a troubling rise in counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl circulating in schools and colleges.

Often disguised as legitimate medications for anxiety, ADHD, or pain relief, these fake pills can be deadly even in small amounts. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and is increasingly being pressed into pills designed to look like familiar pharmaceuticals.

“Teens and young adults are especially vulnerable because they often believe these pills are safe,” said John Templeton, president of Footprints Beachside Recovery Center “Just one counterfeit pill can be lethal, and many students have no idea they’re taking something laced with fentanyl.”

Footprints Beachside Recovery Center, a family-owned addiction treatment facility near Clearwater Beach, offers holistic and evidence-based care tailored to each client. The center is now sharing practical prevention tips for families and educators:

● Talk openly about the risks. Make sure students understand that pills purchased outside a pharmacy, including from friends or social media, can be deadly.
● Watch for warning signs. Sudden changes in behavior, secretive activity, or physical symptoms like drowsiness may signal drug use.
● Secure medications at home. Lock up prescription drugs to prevent misuse.
● Encourage peer support. Teens are more likely to avoid drugs when friends share the same commitment to safety.“With overdoses on the rise, education is one of our best defenses,” Templeton added. “Parents and teachers have an opportunity to create an open dialogue that may save lives.”

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction and are looking for treatment in the Tampa Bay area, please contact Footprints Beachside Recovery Center by visiting www.footprintsbeachside.com or calling 727.677.5410.