11 Dec With Fentanyl on the Rise, Teens Face Deadly Risks and Barriers to Help

Rainbow fentanyl (DEA via Bay City News)

By Anushka Devanathan

Drug overdose deaths among adolescents have increased significantly since the pandemic, but a national study indicates that fewer than one in three teens who are addicted to opioids gets the help they need.

KFF, a health news and research site, analyzed Centers of Disease Control and Prevention data from 2018-23. In 2023, 708 adolescents died of a drug overdose, a slight decrease from the year before but roughly 2.5 times as many as in 2018 and 2019. Most of that increase comes from deaths due to fentanyl, which increased every year from since 2018 to 2023, jumping from 81 to 539 — a crisis made worse by the rise in counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. The availability of these counterfeit pills has increased sharply, with a growing resemblance to prescription opioids.

Educators have taken note of this surge in youth drug use.

Dearborn Ramos, a freshman health teacher at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon said fentanyl use in recreational drugs has been increasingly visible in teens. “Personally, the article wasn’t too surprising,” Ramos said. “How fentanyl is used in some of these recreational drugs is what I think is most alarming.”

Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drugs in the U.S. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, just 2 milligrams — around the size of a pencil tip — is enough to lead to a deadly overdose. The drug operates by binding to receptors in the central nervous center, which regulate pain and emotion. For this reason, fentanyl is used as an anaesthetic in medical settings. However, according to the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, when improperly administered, it inhibits the activity of neurons in the brain’s respiratory center. This slows and nearly stops the rate of breathing, eventually leading to brain hypoxia — meaning the brain is not getting enough oxygen — and death. Its potency has made it especially dangerous when teenagers experiment with it without understanding the risks, often leading to overdose deaths.

“In their life, there are a lot of adults that tell them not to do drugs,” Ramos said. “I would like them to research what it can actually do to my brain and body. That way, they can make an informed decision about exposing their developing minds to these substances.”

Beyond not understanding the consequences, another major issue is the stigma surrounding drug usage. Although drug addiction is often a treatable condition, studies show that people continue to face discrimination for it. This often prevents those struggling from seeking help.

Ramos says the best way to lessen the stigma is to be more open, rather than “treating it like taboo.”

“Let’s have a healthy conversation rooted in research about the impacts of exposing their developing minds to these substances,” Ramos said. “Something students can talk to an adult about.”

With drug usage and overdose cases rising, steps to create prevention programs have been taken to keep students safe. Tobacco Use Prevention Education is a state-funded nonprofit program to bring awareness about nicotine products to young people. TUPE is a popular club in high schools throughout Contra Costa County, with students usually holding educational presentations, talks or activities on campus during lunch. Beyond nicotine, the program offers general substance education, covering alcohol, prescription drugs, vaping and recreational drugs.

“There’s a lot of studies that show that when students teach students, the message resonates a little bit better,” Ramos said. “So just bringing that structure into a school has been super beneficial with getting the messages out about what’s going on in the community and what these substances can do.”

Ria Tandon, a TUPE club officer at DVHS, said that there has been a noticeable increase in drug consumption among teens. “One of the biggest reasons is most likely anxiety,” she said. “Recently, a lot of teens are suffering from a lot of anxiety and pressure, and therefore turning to tobacco [and recreational drugs] to deal with stress. Another possible reason is peer pressure from friends and peers.”

Several other prevention programs and resources for teens exist within the county as well.

See Us Dream is an initiative led by the Contra Costa Youth Service Bureau to educate youth and kids about substance abuse, and specifically about the imminent dangers of opioid overdose within the community. The site contains detailed information on opioids for parents and caregivers, and links to resources for help and support.

The Child Abuse Prevention Council is geared towards helping adolescents and their families, not just with substance abuse, but with depression and teen pregnancy as well. Among the programs it recommends is Room to Overcome, Achieve and Recover, which provides free services to teens aged 13-18 years old who are experiencing substance use disorder or severe mental health symptoms. The Richmond-based program offers treatment such as individual therapy, groups and other recreational and enrichment opportunities.

Those in need of immediate aid can call the Contra Costa County Access line at (888) 678-7277. Callers are screened for mental health or substance abuse treatment and will be able to ask questions and find support and services as needed.

As overdoses continue rising in teens, the issue is becoming something we see in everyday life, in classrooms, students and among peers. The increased access teens have to recreational drugs, along with the underlying stigma behind it only heighten the risk. Although the situation continues to grow, awareness programs and support services are taking initiatives to alleviate the growing opioid crisis. Schools, teachers and peers alike are taking the necessary measures to create a safer and more informed space for students moving forward.