Teen overdose deaths on the rise and fentanyl plays a big role

There has been a sharp increase in teen overdose deaths. One of the primary reasons is fentanyl.

In one year, teen overdose deaths nearly doubled. And many of these deaths are accidental.

When you think of fentanyl, teenagers don’t usually come to mind. But researchers say that is exactly what’s killing these kids.

Adolescents experimenting with drugs is not new. But, today’s recreational drug use is akin to playing Russian roulette.

Nancy Dauphinais is a licensed mental health counselor and certified addiction professional with the David Lawrence Center. “They can be in one and not another,” Dauphinais said.

She’s referring to fentanyl. Researchers at UCLA say it’s to blame for the sharp rise in teen overdose deaths that nearly doubled in one year. “The facts alone are scary,” said Dauphinais.

Joe Rosenburg lives in Naples. “It’s totally scary. However, it’s our culture, unfortunately,” said Rosenberg.

The numbers themselves are shocking. In 2019, there were 492 deadly overdoses. And there were 952 in 2020.

“It doesn’t just affect one person. It affects family and affects friends. It’s just horrible,” Rosenberg said.

They can be horrible and unsuspecting, but these deaths are also often accidental. “Most individuals aren’t even aware that fentanyl was in the drug they were taking,” Dauphinais said.

Counterfeit pills are being mistaken for prescription drugs. So, the fakes that kids buy from friends or people they trust can be lethal. “They may not even be aware of what’s been introduced into the supply and we’re seeing this trickle down into our youth and so one use of an illegal pill can be deadly,” said Dauphinais.

So, how can we help teens? Dauphinais said overdose reversal drugs might be the key to saving lives. “Having Narcan around and available and folks trained to use it is really a life-saving strategy,” Dauphinais said.

If there is a silver lining to be found in this study, it’s that overall drug use in teens is dropping. But deadly overdoses are still rising.