Overdosing among teens and young adults has assumed alarming proportions in recent times. Despite State-mediated initiatives like the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, which was usually delivered by police officers, deaths due to overdose have increased exponentially. At the same time, mental health struggles, increased availability, contamination with fentanyl, celebrity influences, and lack of awareness and education are some of the major factors responsible for causing overdose among teens and young adults.
131M Americans are on prescription drugs. 1 in 7 are drug addicts. 25M are legal alcoholics. In 2019, Europeans spent $950 Billion on psychiatric help. Are these the signs of a healthy society or a degeneracy personified? pic.twitter.com/MSuss3NwbH
— Daniel Estulin (@EstulinDaniel) July 16, 2020Easy Access through Social Media
Nowadays, constant exposure to social media enables easy access to drugs and other illicit substances. The online marketplace made possible through rampant use of the internet has made procurement of drugs easier for young people. The illicit trade that has been gaining prominence in recent times often supplies content laced with harmful substances. Youngsters who purchase drugs online do not verify the true potency or purity of the substances and are misled more than often. In addition to that, certain harmful social media trends and challenges like drug-related dare, endurance tests, and sharing drug experiences on TikTok, among others, can normalize substance use and encourage risky behaviours. This, in the long run, can cause accidents of overdose.
Mental Health Struggle
Mental health struggles in the form of depression and anxiety disorders make it difficult for young adults and teens to cope with. They try to look for distraction and mental peace by getting high. Despite being a negative way to cope with mental health issues, the use of drugs has gained popularity with rising rates of depression and other mental health emergencies. Often, drug use becomes a way to handle one’s loneliness and lack of meaningful relationships.
Lack of Awareness
The contamination of prescription drugs with harmful substances and fentanyl, in particular, affects the health of youngsters. Often, they are unaware of the effects and take certain medicines as part of their routine prescription. Besides, individuals who are moderately addicted do not seek medical intervention at the appropriate time, which leads to overdosing in the long run.
Lack of Support System
Young adults, as well as teens, often try to find solace in drug use as they are emotionally vulnerable and have to navigate through a number of physical and mental changes at this age. During this time, parental support is a key to ensure their mental and physical well-being. In the absence of a strong support system to care for and nurture their emotional needs, they fall prey to substance abuse at an early age. Often, childhood trauma and post-traumatic disorder-related stress aggravate drug use and cause overdose if not checked in time.
Celebrity Influences
Additionally, the influence of celebrity plays a deciding role in promoting the drugs and illicit substance abuse culture. Celebrities are looked upon as role models by young adolescents and teens, and their activities and way of life are emulated blindly by youngsters. Eminem’s near-fatal methadone overdose in 2007 inspired him to get sober and break free from addiction; the 28-year-old Australian actor Heath Ledger’s death in January 2008 following a prescription drug overdose in his New York apartment points to the prevalence of the existing problem.
Recently, Friends star Matthew Perry’s death owing to a ketamine overdose on August 16, 2024, has brought the problem into the light once again. While the use of drugs in T.V. Series and films comes with a disclaimer, yet youngsters, in order to blend in with their peer groups, take up drugs use occasionally, which later turn to addiction and cause overdose sometimes.
Contamination of prescribed opioids
It is interesting to note that although the use of illicit substances among adolescents has dropped to some extent over the past few decades, but death due to overdosing has become more common than ever. It is largely attributed to contamination of the drug supply with fentanyl. Fentanyl is widely available as it has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a pain reliever and anaesthetic. It has significantly increased the risk of overdose as it often gets mixed with other drugs, such as heroin or prescription opioids, without the user’s knowledge. Again, counterfeit prescription pills containing higher doses of fentanyl are easily accessible and lead to overdose unintentionally by the user.
Parental history of substance misuse
Often, teens and young adults take up drug use from their parents, who have a history of substance abuse. Watching addicted parents at home can have a negative impact on the children as it normalizes drug abuse and encourages children to follow their parents. Instead of providing a solid support system, these parents themselves are in need of counselling and de-addiction services. This increased sense of isolation and lack of support results in overdose among teens and young adolescents.
Though the DARE program has had limited success, psychologists suggest integrating a mental health support system with anti-drug abuse campaigns for efficient results, as mental health struggle remains one of the primary factors that drive drug abuse. Besides, an adequate community support system through schools, family, and peer groups can also help in a positive direction in addressing the rising challenges of overdose. In addition to that, fostering a positive environment where people are encouraged to seek counselling services and are open to talk about their struggles and seek appropriate help can help prevent overdose in the long run. Again, quality checks of prescription opioids from time to time can help in checking the rising cases of fentanyl contamination.
FAQ
1. Why has the rate of overdose deaths among teens and young adults increased so dramatically in recent years?
The rise in overdose deaths is primarily due to the widespread availability of fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. Other contributing factors include mental health struggles, social media influence, lack of awareness, and inadequate support systems.
2. How does social media contribute to drug use and overdose among young people?
Social media platforms can normalize drug use through challenges, trends, and online marketplaces that facilitate easy access to drugs. This can create a sense of peer pressure and make drug use seem more acceptable.
3. What role do mental health struggles play in overdose deaths?
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can lead to substance use as a coping mechanism. When combined with easy access to drugs, this can increase the risk of overdose.
4. Why are prescription drugs a major concern in overdose deaths?
Counterfeit prescription pills, often laced with fentanyl, have become increasingly common. This can lead to unintentional overdoses as young people may not be aware of the true contents of the pills.
5. How can parental support and community resources help prevent overdose deaths?
Strong parental support and community-based programs can provide young people with the emotional support and resources they need to cope with challenges and avoid substance use.
6. What are some effective strategies to address the overdose crisis?
Addressing the overdose crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, including: Expanding and integrating access to mental health and substance abuse treatment and strengthening community-based support systems.
