Dr. Anna Lembke
ON THE RECORD · 8 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“A single dose to an opioid-naive person could kill, which is why it's so important that we have data-informed discussions with young people in particular,”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke warned that a single dose of fentanyl can kill an opioid-naive person, underscoring the need for data-informed discussions with young people.
“These drugs are far too accessible and far too lethal to just leave it to hoping that it will be a passing phase the kid will outgrow,”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke urged parents not to dismiss a child's substance-use disorder as normal teenage experimentation given the lethality of modern drugs.
“We don't know if she sought out fentanyl. We don't know if she had a counterfeit pill that had fentanyl in it. She might have been prescribed fentanyl for pain,”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke discussed the unclear circumstances of Hayden Panettiere's death and the unknown source of fentanyl in her system.
“This is still a very serious risk, and it's a risk that doesn't discriminate. Old and young, rich and poor, famous, not famous. Because of the increased access to these highly potent and potentially lethal drugs in the modern age, we're really all at risk for this problem,”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke said fentanyl remains a deadly threat that can affect anyone regardless of age, wealth, or fame.
“We know that the earlier we intervene with addiction-related problems, the more likely we are to reroute that person on a new path of life.”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke said early intervention in addiction-related problems increases the likelihood of changing a person's life path.
“The kind of experimentation with drugs in their youth that their parents might've engaged in relatively risk-free...it's not risk-free anymore”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke said the kind of drug experimentation parents may have engaged in is no longer risk-free for young adults due to fentanyl.
“She was also on a benzo. We know combining benzos and opioids increases the risk of overdose of each of those medications separately. It looks like she was also on Quetiapine, a mood stabilizer, but also highly sedating in the mix.”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke explained that combining benzodiazepines and opioids increases overdose risk, and noted Quetiapine was also in Panettiere's system.
“We don't know where she sourced it, but it does look like it was a lethal polypharmacy, including fentanyl, which on its own is an incredibly lethal drug.”
Dr. Anna Lembke · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Lembke described the combination of drugs in Panettiere's system as a lethal polypharmacy including fentanyl.