Reported drug use among adolescents continued to hold below pre-pandemic levels in 2023… yet overdose death rates among teens have risen in recent years.
This increase is largely attributed to illicit fentanyl, a potent synthetic drug, contaminating the supply of counterfeit pills made to resemble prescription medications.
“Research has shown that delaying the start of substance use among young people, even by one year, can decrease substance use for the rest of their lives. We may be seeing this play out in real time,” said Nora Volkow, M.D., NIDA director. “This trend is reassuring. Though, it remains crucial to continue to educate young people about the risks and harms of substance use in an open and honest way, emphasizing that illicit pills and other substances may contain deadly fentanyl.”
To read the full press release, as well as access the data sources, go to https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2023/12/reported-drug-use-among-adolescents-continued-to-hold-below-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2023
NIDA. Reported drug use among adolescents continued to hold below pre-pandemic levels in 2023. National Institute on Drug Abuse website. https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2023/12/reported-drug-use-among-adolescents-continued-to-hold-below-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2023. December 13, 2023 Accessed December 13, 2023….
Drug Use
Drug Use
Drug Use
Drug Use
Drug Use
Drug Use
Drug Use
Safe and Sober is made possible with generous support from these businesses and organizations.
