THE KIDS AREN’T ALRIGHT, THEY’RE DYING OF DRUG OVERDOSES

The majority of those who perished were adults, but the alarming rate at which young Americans are losing their lives to drug overdoses is a cause for concern. The number of fatalities rose drastically from 31 in July 2019 to 87 in May 2021, representing an unprecedented surge in statistics.

When analyzing data for Americans aged 10 to 19 years old, the CDC found a comparable pattern to that observed in adults: the majority of adolescent deaths caused by drug overdoses are males.

However, among these fatalities, there is a larger proportion of girls compared to women.

More boys in the tween and teenage age group are losing their lives due to drug overdoses, surpassing the number of girls affected by more than double.

Another crucial differentiating factor lies in the root cause that drives these devastating instances of drug overdose.

Among adults, individuals who partake in polydrug use are at a heightened risk of experiencing a fatal overdose when contrasted with those who consume a single substance.

The most common combinations involve the simultaneous usage of fentanyl with another opioid, like a prescription medication, or fentanyl combined with a stimulant such as cocaine or methamphetamine.

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Fentanyl is often identified as the primary catalyst.

Fentanyl remains the leading cause of fatal overdoses among adolescents, responsible for 84 percent of these tragic incidents involving teens. Shockingly, it also accounts for 56 percent of all overdoses.

In case you were born yesterday… Fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, surpasses the strength of morphine by an estimated 100 times. This remarkable potency makes it a frequently used drug in hospital settings. However, it is crucial to note that teenagers and preteens generally possess limited tolerance to opioids due to their lack of exposure. Consequently, the heightened potency of fentanyl significantly increases the risk of overdose within this demographic.

Many young individuals inadvertently ingest fentanyl when they mistakenly consume counterfeit pills that they believe to be legitimate prescription opioids, stimulants, or other illicit drugs that have been adulterated with this particular substance.

This inadvertent use can increase the risk of overdose, as individuals who are unaware they are consuming fentanyl are less likely to have naloxone or fentanyl test strips readily available for reversing an overdose.

In 67% of adolescent overdose deaths, there was a chance for bystanders to intervene, but unfortunately, Naloxone was only administered in less than half of those instances.

Only 10% of teenagers and pre-teens who experienced a drug overdose had actively sought treatment for substance abuse, while a mere 14% had prior encounters with nonfatal overdoses.

As always… Follow the money. If you can.