“Don’t do drugs.”

“Vaping is bad for your lungs.”

We’ve all heard these warnings countless times during drug-awareness assemblies at school. But tour speaker earlier this year really caught my attention. Their story is one I’ll carry with me for a long time.

The speaker shared the story of a young boy who swore he’d never touch drugs—not even a vape. But like many, he made a choice he thought he never would. He tried fentanyl, one of the deadliest drugs out there today.

For those who don’t know, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s incredibly powerful. It’s legally used in hospitals as a pain reliever and anesthetic, but outside of those settings, it’s a killer. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), fentanyl is about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Just a tiny amount can be deadly.

It’s scary to think about how this drug has made its way into the lives of teens and young adults. Fentanyl is often disguised as other drugs or mixed into things like counterfeit pills. You might not even know you’re taking it until it’s too late.

Hearing this story really opened my eyes. It’s easy to dismiss drug talks as repetitive or overly dramatic, but fentanyl is no joke. The speaker’s message wasn’t just about saying no; it was about understanding the risks, the consequences, and the fact that no one is invincible.

But it’s not just fentanyl we need to worry about. Vaping, which has become so common among teens, is often seen as “safer” than smoking, but it’s far from harmless. Studies show that vaping can damage your lungs, cause addiction, and expose you to harmful chemicals like nicotine and heavy metals. What’s worse, some vapes have been found to contain substances like THC or even traces of fentanyl without users knowing. Vaping might seem like no big deal, but it’s a slippery slope that can lead to long-term health issues or even more dangerous drug use.

As students, we need to take these warnings seriously, not just for ourselves but for our friends, too. Addiction and overdoses are closer to our lives than we think, and fentanyl is making that reality even worse.

The next time someone tells you, “Don’t do drugs,” remember it’s not just a cliché. It’s a plea to protect your life and the lives of those around you.