As Oregon students return to high school and college, state health and education officials are launching a new effort aimed at helping young people recognize and prevent drug overdoses — and potentially save the life of a friend.
The Friends for Life campaign focuses on teens and young adults ages 13 to 25, providing information about fentanyl and other drugs, counterfeit pills, overdose warning signs and the use of naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.
The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education are bringing the program to Oregon in partnership with the Washington State Health Care Authority.
The campaign emphasizes something particularly important for young people: friends are often the first people present when something goes wrong.
“Young people want to be there for their friends, so we need to equip young people and the adults in their lives to talk openly about drugs, mental health and supporting each other,” said Dr. Tom Jeanne, deputy state health officer and deputy epidemiologist at OHA.
“With Friends for Life, we’re recognizing the importance of relationships to keep our communities safe and healthy,” Jeanne said.
Fentanyl Remains a Serious Threat
Oregon has seen encouraging movement in overdose statistics. Overdose deaths declined during the past two years and reached a four-year low in 2025.
Despite that progress, fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to be major contributors to fatal overdoses in the state. More than 90% of reported overdose deaths involved fentanyl, methamphetamine or a combination of the two.
Young people age 24 and younger accounted for approximately 4% of Oregon’s overdose deaths in 2024.
That year, 59 youth and young adults died from drug overdoses. While still a significant loss of life, the number represented a substantial decline from 106 deaths in 2023.
State health officials say prevention during adolescence and young adulthood is particularly important because preventing or delaying substance use can reduce the risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life.
Another statistic highlights why Friends for Life focuses heavily on teaching young people what to do when a friend may be overdosing.
More than half of youth overdose events involved another person being present.
That means a friend, family member or other bystander may be in a position to recognize an overdose, call 911 and administer naloxone.
Schools Part of Prevention Effort
Schools are expected to play an important role in getting the information to young people.
“Our schools play an essential role in helping students build the knowledge, skills and trusted relationships they need to make healthy, informed decisions,” Oregon Department of Education Director Charlene Williams said.
“By partnering with families, communities and public health leaders, we can give young people tools to recognize risks, support one another, and know what to do in an emergency.”
Friends for Life provides a free toolkit for schools and community organizations. Materials are available in seven languages and include posters, wallet cards, informational cards and social media materials.
Schools and community organizations can also receive technical assistance to adapt the program to meet the needs of their communities.
For students and parents, the campaign provides youth-focused information in English and Spanish about fentanyl, counterfeit pills, preventing an overdose, using naloxone, treatment and recovery.
The Oregon campaign is supported by federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We hope Friends for Life can help us take care of each other by preventing addiction and drug use before it starts, as well as giving people the tools to stay safe,” Jeanne said.
More information and resources are available through the Friends for Life campaign at orfriendsforlife.com.
Reach Publisher Teresa Pearson at [email protected].