06/06/2023
Although youth overdose rates had remained stable since 2010, they have risen in recent years. Among persons aged 14-18 years, overdoses increased from 2.36 per 100,000 population in 2019 to 4.57 per 100,000 in 2020. According to researchers, the increase in adolescent overdoses does not entirely mean that youth are using illicit drugs at higher rates than previous years. Researchers point to highly potent fentanyl being added to the drug supply as a main concern.
