Non-medical use of fentanyl by people without opioid tolerance can be very dangerous and has resulted in many deaths. Even people with opiate tolerance are at high risk of overdoses. Fentanyl is used as a recreational drug. This has led to thousands of overdose deaths each year from 2000 to 2015. It is now "the leading cause of death for young adults in the US". It is also the main cause of death in British Columbia for people aged between 10 and 59. 