The opioid epidemic is a major public health issue that has hit the US in recent decades. This is coupled with overdose deaths that are rapidly rising by the day. The opioid crisis started in the mid- 1990s due to the rising availability and use of drugs in the population. Opioids include narcotics and prescription drugs used to treat chronic health conditions. However, due to their addictive capability, they can be sold illegally. Some illegal opioids include heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, while fentanyl and marijuana can be used legally in hospital settings to reduce pain, especially among cancer patients. The opioid crisis causes opioid use disorder (OUD) among people addicted to the drugs.
Drug overdose deaths among adolescents increased from 518 to 1146 between 2010 and 2021. Fentanyl caused most of the deaths at 77% due to its affordability. Studies posit that fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin. Drug overdose deaths among children aged between 10 and 14 years tripled between 2019 and 2020 (Christensen, 2022). Between 2015 and 2019, unintentional drug overdoses caused 200, 000 years of lost life among adolescents in the US. Within 12 months ending in December 2021, the annual drug overdose deaths caused 104, 288 deaths. This was double the number reported in 2015 where 52, 000 annual overdose deaths were reported.
The opioid crisis is based on three major waves marked by specific factors. The first wave is traced back to 1996, when there was increased use of opioids for prescription and non-prescription purposes. The second wave began in 2010 and was characterized by the increased use of heroin and cocaine, while the fourth wave, which began in 2013, saw the increased use of fentanyl. The drug is used among cancer patients to relieve pain. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and most overdose deaths are caused by fake pills containing an overdose (Holcombe, 2022). Illicit fentanyl is combined with counterfeit prescription pills, cocaine, and heroin. Five in every 100, 000 Teenagers aged between 14 and 18 years died from a drug overdose in 2020. The use of illicit fentanyl caused about 70% of these deaths, and the percentage rose to 77% between January and June 2021 (Bendix, 2022). In the past, fentanyl was packaged as powder and sold under the guise of heroin, but lately, it is combined with counterfeit pills and sold as a prescription drug. As such, most people think they are purchasing Percocet, Xanax or Vicodin while they are buying fentanyl. This trend is more prevalent on the West Coast, especially in California, which ranks third in the number of opioid overdose deaths in the US. Drug overdose is highest among American Indians, Alaska Natives and Latino teens.
The use of fentanyl among adolescents has become a big problem, and some schools keep Naloxone to counter the effects of an overdose. Naloxone is an antidote to most opioids and is available under the brand name Narcan. Hartford county in Connecticut is among the areas using this measure. In January 2022, a 13 years old boy died after a fentanyl overdose. After evaluation by the police, 40 bags of fentanyl were found in the school, and another 100 bags were found in the boys’ bedroom (Christensen, 2022). This prompted the school district to recommend the stocking of Naloxone in case such an event happens in the future. The 50 states and the District of Columbia have developed legislation concerning access to Naloxone. Also, 20 states allow schools to possess Naloxone and administer it to students with opioid overdose.
Adolescents are the most affected by opioid overdose, mainly due to their involvement in social media. Most adolescents can access gadgets and the internet, which makes it easy to connect with drug dealers. Drug dealers do not sell their products at street corners but rather access the buyers from social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat (Holcombe, 2022). This situation is facilitated by the anonymity of social media relationships and increased privacy of conversations. Indeed, drug dealers are abusing the online space, thus causing an increase in the number of adolescents using illicit drugs.
Law enforcement agencies have a major role to play in eradicating the issue of drug overdose among adolescents in society. For example, they can develop software that detects drug dealing activities among the users and shut down such sites. This can be achieved by working alongside counternarcotics experts, specific government agencies, and families of the affected. It is also necessary to raise awareness about the effects of opioids in the community (Christensen, 2022). Teenagers should be taught about safe and dangerous drugs and how to distinguish between the two. Also, teen education should cover how to test the drugs for traces of fentanyl and how to reverse the effects of an overdose using Naloxone. Increasing opioid awareness among teens enables them to make informed decisions, thus reducing the risk of a drug overdose in this cohort.
Further, it is necessary to point out the dangers of using illicit fentanyl that may cause fatalities. Young people need to understand the danger of the rampant use of opioids, including addiction and OUD, affecting their quality of life and wellbeing. In severe cases, they may experience drug overdose, which can be fatal (Mallet & Tedor, 2019). Besides, it is necessary to increase the availability of Naloxone, an antidote to opioid overdoses. Removing its prescription status and availing it over the counter is essential to reduce overdose deaths.
Providing psychotherapy interventions through motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is also an effective strategy that enables drug abusers to quit their use (Mallet & Tedor, 2019). MET is a person-centred approach that increases the motivation of an individual to change behaviour. During MET sessions, the therapist enables the patient to objectively review their behaviours and life, thus increasing their inspiration to transform. MET is based on the patient’s intrinsic motivation by raising awareness about the problem, adjusting the self-defeating thought patterns and increasing an individual’s confidence to change (Mallet & Tedor, 2019). The therapist encourages the patient to make statements that portray they understand the problem and are willing to change. Further, these people develop a change plan and coping strategies to avert the need to abuse drugs. On the other hand, CBT seeks to change the maladaptive thought pattern that is, in turn, depicted in positive behaviours. By understanding their negative thoughts, people develop better problem-solving skills to cope with the difficulties in their lives. As such, patients become active participants in creating ways to cope with the problems in their lives.
Drug overdose and deaths from illicit fentanyl have increased in the last few years in the US. Most states have enacted laws allowing access to Naloxone, which is an antidote to fentanyl overdose. However, this strategy has not been effective, and other interventions should be evaluated to end the menace of illicit drug abuse.
References
Bendix, A. (April 12, 2022). Fentanyl drives spike in teen overdose deaths, even as drug use falls to new low. NBC Universal. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/teen-overdose-deaths-spiked-low-drug-use-rcna23103
Christensen, J. (February 18, 2022). Middle-school children fall prey to fatal fentanyl overdoses. CNN.https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/18/health/fentanyl-fatal-overdoses-middle-schoolers/index.html
Holcombe, M. (April 12, 2022). Teen overdose deaths are rapidly rising- but not because more of them are using drugs. CNN.https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/12/health/teen-overdose-deaths-wellness/index.html
Mallet, C. & Tedor, M. (2019). Juvenile delinquency: Pathways and prevention (1st edition). SAGE Publishing.
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