Overdoses in Adolescents on the Rise

Opioids strike again – and this time it’s among U.S. teens, whose rate of overdoses doubled from 1999 to 2015, according to newly released figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

In 2015 alone, there were 772 drug overdose deaths for adolescents ages 15 through 19 and they died at a rate of 3.7 per 100,000, according to the CDC. This is yet another stark reminder of the dangers of opioids. 

Boys and girls show different rates of use, with male adolescents being far more susceptible. In 2015, overdose rates for teenage boys rose to 4.6%, while teenage girl rates rose to 2.7%.

The study found that opioids had the highest death rate, followed by benzodiazepines (including Valium and Xanax) – and a combination of these drugs is what often lead to overdose. And heroin and fentanyl (often unintentional) were higher on the list than semisynthetic opioids (painkillers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone). Perhaps proof that solving the opioid crisis takes more than reducing the prescribing of opioids, say researchers. 

3 Facts About Fentanyl

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids urges parents to understand more about fentanyl to keep their families safe. Here are three of the most important facts to know. 

1. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine. It is a schedule II prescription drug typically used to treat patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery. 

2. It is relatively cheap to produce, increasing its presence in illicit street drugs. According to a report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, evidence suggests that fentanyl is being pressed into pills that resemble OxyContin, Xanax and hydrocodone as well as being cut into heroin and other street drugs. 

3. Naloxone (Narcan) will work in case of overdose, but extra doses may be needed.

Because fentanyl is far more powerful than other opioids, the standard 1-2 doses of naloxone may not be enough. Calling 911 is the first step in responding to any overdose, but in the case of a fentanyl-related overdose the help of emergency responders, who will have more naloxone, is critical.

Getting Help for Opioid Abuse
For information about Hope Academy's young adult substance abuse treatment program, or to begin the admissions process for a loved one, call today: 866-930-4673.

Heroin Overdose Deaths on Rise

Just in: The Drug Enforcement Administration released its 2016 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA), which details the impact of illicit drugs on the United States. The report further illuminated the opioid epidemic sweeping the nation and the growing heroin user population. And, perhaps most alarming, it showed that overdose deaths more than tripled between 2010 and 2014 due to the use of these drugs.

Other highlights of the recent report include: 

• In 2014, approximately 129 people died every day as a result of drug poisoning and 61% (79) of them are pharmaceutical opioid or heroin related.
• Heroin overdose deaths are high across the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest.  
• Deaths in the “synthetic opioids” category rose 79% from 3,097 in 2013 to 5,544 in 2014. Fentanyl, which is sometimes added to heroin batches, or mixed with other adulterants and sold as counterfeit heroin, is contributing to most of this increase. 
• Methamphetamine continues to be readily available throughout the U.S., and methamphetamine distribution and use continues to contribute to violent and property crime across the nation. 
• Cocaine availability and use in the U.S. increased across multiple fronts between 2014 and 2015 – and it’s likely continue to rise in the near future. 

"Sadly, this report reconfirms that opioids such as heroin and fentanyl - and diverted prescription pain pills - are killing people in this country at a horrifying rate," acting DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg told sources. "We face a public health crisis of historic proportions. Countering it requires a comprehensive approach that includes law enforcement, education, and treatment."

Finding Help for a Loved One
One of the most important decisions you can make is to support your friend or family member in seeking treatment for opioid addiction. For information about Hope Academy's young adult substance abuse treatment program, or to begin the admissions process for a loved one, call 866-930-4673.