New statewide resources give students, families and schools tools to prevent and respond to overdoses
(PORTLAND, OR)—As students return to high school and college, Oregon and Washington state public health and education leaders are encouraging young people and their loved ones to look out for one another through Friends for Life, a new overdose prevention effort focused on teens and young adults ages 13 to 25.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), in partnership with the Washington State Health Care Authority, are bringing resources to Oregon to help young people and families talk about fentanyl and other drugs, prevent overdoses, recognize the signs of an overdose and use naloxone.
“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 Tom Jeanne, M.D., MPH, 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.”
The campaign offers practical, youth-focused resources in English and Spanish at www.orfriendsforlife.com, including information on fentanyl, fake pills, overdose prevention, naloxone, treatment and recovery.
“Our schools play an essential role in helping students build the knowledge, skills and trusted relationships they need to make healthy, informed decisions,” said ODE Director Charlene Williams. “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.”
Why it matters
Oregon’s overdose deaths have declined over the past two years, reaching a four-year low in 2025. But fentanyl and methamphetamine remain major drivers of overdose deaths, with more than 90% of reported overdose deaths involving fentanyl, methamphetamine or both.
Young people ages 24 and younger accounted for 4% of Oregon’s overdose deaths in 2024. Although youth and young adults represent a small percentage of overdose deaths in Oregon, preventing substance use early in life dramatically reduces future risk of substance use disorder and other related health outcomes. Fifty-nine youth and young adults died from drug overdoses that year, down from 106 in 2023.
Importantly, more than half of youth overdose events involved someone else being present, meaning a friend, family member or other bystander may have been able to call 911 and administer naloxone.
Resources for schools, families and communities
Friends for Life includes:
- A free toolkit for schools and community organizations with materials in seven languages, including posters, wallet cards, rack cards and social media content.
- Technical assistance to help schools and community partners adapt the campaign for their communities.
Oregon’s Friends for Life 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.
Learn more and access resources at www.orfriendsforlife.com.
