High Percentage of Teens Exposed to Narcotic Painkillers, Study Finds

A biennial survey conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in South Korea revealed that 10.4% of middle and high school students have used fentanyl patches, a form of narcotic painkiller, with 94.9% obtaining prescriptions from hospitals. The survey also showed an increase in alcohol consumption and watching of restricted videos among students, while smoking decreased slightly. The survey did not distinguish whether fentanyl had been prescribed for medicinal use or was illegally given to addicted teens.