Social media fuels fentanyl crisis as drug dealers take to platforms to connect with minors

Health News

Social media fuels fentanyl crisis as drug dealers take to platforms to connect with minors
TechnologySocial MediaTelegram
  • 📰 CBSNews
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 24 sec. here
  • 7 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 30%
  • Publisher: 68%

Experts, law enforcement and children's advocates say companies like Snap, TikTok and Meta are not doing enough to keep children safe.

Fentanyl overdoses have become a leading cause of death for minors in the last five years or so, even as overall drug use has dropped slightly. In a 2022 analysis of fentanyl-laced prescription pills, the DEA found that six out of 10 contained a potentially lethal dose of the drug. And social media , where tainted, fake prescription drugs can be obtained with just a few clicks, is a big part of the problem.

Paul DelPonte, executive director and CEO of the National Crime Prevention Council, attributes this partly to more education and awareness about the issue. Among young people ages 0 to 19, there were 1,622 overdose deaths in 2021, then 1,590 in 2022, and 1,511 last year.The decline, DelPonte said, is 'very small.'Response from social media platformsIn a statement, Meta said drug dealers 'are criminals who stop at nothing to sell their dangerous products.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

CBSNews /  🏆 87. in US

Technology Social Media Telegram Opioids Children

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Meta teams up with Snap and TikTok to address self-harm contentMeta teams up with Snap and TikTok to address self-harm contentKalhan Rosenblatt is a reporter covering youth and internet culture for NBC News, based in New York.
Read more »

Banned in Brazil: The world is moving toward greater regulation of social media, experts sayBanned in Brazil: The world is moving toward greater regulation of social media, experts sayBrazil's recent ban of X may seem antithetical to Americans' notion of the First Amendment and the idea of the internet as a 'marketplace of ideas' where the good ultimately overshadows the bad and the ugly.
Read more »

'Demure,' TikTok's latest trend, has social media users hooked on living with modesty'Demure,' TikTok's latest trend, has social media users hooked on living with modestyWhat's the meaning of demure? The TikTok trend has millions of people talking as social media users reveal how they live a mindful, modest, non-attention-seeking lifestyle.
Read more »

TikTok Takeover: The Social Media Influencers Speaking at 2024 DNCTikTok Takeover: The Social Media Influencers Speaking at 2024 DNCThe lineup includes Deja Foxx, Nabela Noor, Carlos Eduardo Espina, Olivia Julianna and John Russell, who collectively boast over 24 million social media followers.
Read more »

Most Followed WWE Wrestlers on Social Media Incl. Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTokMost Followed WWE Wrestlers on Social Media Incl. Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTokThe most followed WWE wrestlers on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Read more »

Utah retirement experts issue critical warning about Social SecurityUtah retirement experts issue critical warning about Social SecurityRetirement experts Tyson Thacker and Ryan Thacker have issued a critical warning to Utah residents who are planning to file for Social Security in the next five years.
Read more »



Render Time: 2025-02-16 07:43:31