Drug overdoses among people aged 10 to 18 more than doubled in the United States between 2019 and 2021, according to a study released by health authorities, who warned in particular of the risks of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
The average monthly rate of overdose among adolescents increased by 109 percent between 2019 and 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.However, illicit drug use among adolescents was down overall during the same period, suggesting that the rise in deaths was likely caused by more potent drugs rather than more frequent usage, the study said.
According to the study, around a quarter of adolescent overdoses were linked to counterfeit pills, often sold under the guise of Oxycodone, a painkiller, or Alprazolam, an anxiety drug often known by the brand name Xanax. "The proliferation of counterfeit pills is particularly concerning for adolescents given marketing aimed toward this population and the availability of such pills via social media," the CDC report said.
A total of 1,808 adolescent overdoses were reported between July 2019 and December 2021 in 31 American states and Washington DC, the report said.
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