Drug overdose deaths among high school teens double in four years

A study carried out by The New England Journal of Medicine - and reviewed by Fox - revealed a record number of deaths among high school adolescents due to drug overdoses. The research revealed that an average of 22 young people - between 14 and 18 years old - died each week from this cause (the mortality rate has more than doubled compared to 2018).

According to the study (which used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC) the increase in deaths was driven primarily by poisonings attributed to fentanyl hidden in pills and conventional medicines.

Overdose, the third cause of adolescent death

Drug overdose became the third cause of adolescent death in the nation in 2022, with more than 1,100 deaths (being surpassed by deaths related to firearms and traffic accidents).

Dr. Scott Hadland, chief of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, told Fox that although "fewer teens than ever are actively using drugs," "more teens than ever are dying." He states that this trend occurs because "drug consumption is not becoming more common, but rather more dangerous." He concluded by assuring that "there are no signs that this trend will reverse or slow down."

According to the CDC, about 75% of all overdose deaths are linked to opioid use.

Arizona, Colorado and Washington, the most affected states

The study found that Arizona, Colorado and Washington are the places most affected by adolescent drug overdoses. Between 2020 and 2022, death rates in these states due to this cause were nearly double the national average or higher.

Maricopa, Arizona (117 deaths) and Los Angeles, California (111) are the counties that recorded the highest number of deaths.

Not only in young people, the elderly also see record overdose numbers

In December, the Senate published a report warning about the increase (28%) in deaths caused by synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl) in the older population. According to the text, among citizens aged 65 years or older, deaths from "overdoses have quadrupled in the last two decades."

Fentanyl and Older Americans by Veronica Silveri

In figures, the study highlights the great increase in overdose deaths in adults in 2021 compared to 2002: "In 2021, 6,702 Americans over the age of 65 died of an overdose. "This dramatic increase is reflected in the rising overdose rate in this age group, which went from three overdose deaths per 100,000 in 2002 to 12 per 100,000 in 2021."

The report revealed that the increase in deaths of adults (as well as that of young people) is partly due to the fact that they take a specific medication and may resort to the black market to acquire it. Therefore, they may inadvertently ingest drugs mixed with fentanyl.

The analysis highlights the alarming 480% increase in fentanyl seizures made by the Border Patrol in just three years. In 2020, Border Patrol seized 4,600 pounds of fentanyl along the southern border. In 2023, the amount skyrocketed to 26,700 pounds.