Fentanyl has significantly contributed to a doubling of overdose deaths among children aged 12 to 17 since the start of the pandemic. The crisis has now affected young people, with a rise in emergency room visits and addiction treatment among Latinos in the Washington, DC area. The surge in youth overdoses is attributed to a dangerous drug supply and decline in mental health due to lockdown measures and increased social media usage.
Key Points
Fentanyl has fueled a staggering increase in youth overdose deaths
Policy changes allow public school students to carry naloxone
Surge in youth overdoses attributed to dangerous drug supply and decline in mental health
Pros
Increased awareness of the fentanyl crisis among youth
Efforts to provide naloxone kits in schools to combat overdoses
Cons
Rapid rise in youth overdose deaths
Impact on mental health and social media usage among teens