"Despite lower use overall, teen overdose deaths have risen sharply since 2020, driven mainly by counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, a potent opioid ( 3, 4). Social media platforms serve as easy-access online drug marketplaces for underage users ( 5). A teen seeking a stimulant or anti- anxiety pill may unknowingly purchase a counterfeit drug, risking a fatal overdose. While overdose deaths remain far less common among adolescents than adults, rates have not returned to pre-pandemic levels."
"Family risk of substance use, ACEs, and early age of use increase a teen's risk of problematic substance use. Nicotine and cannabis are widely available and high potency, raising concerns for toxicity and dependence. Parents can monitor for common reasons teens self-medicate (anxiety, sleep, attention) and address these. Cultivating supportive relationships can serve as a protective factor. Risk-taking and testing limits are a regular part of adolescent development."
Teen substance use rates have declined over the past decades, but overdose deaths among adolescents have risen sharply since 2020, largely from counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl sold via social media. Modern nicotine and cannabis products are more potent and widely available, increasing risks for toxicity and dependence. Parents can monitor for self-medication reasons such as anxiety, sleep problems, and attention difficulties, and address those underlying needs. Early age of use, family substance use, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) raise risk for problematic use. Supportive parental relationships and monitoring serve as protective factors.
#adolescent-substance-use #fentanylcounterfeit-pills #high-potency-cannabis-and-nicotine #parental-monitoring-and-support
Read at Psychology Today
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