Fentanyl behind increase in teen overdose deaths, analysis finds

Fentanyl is increasingly landing in the hands of teens across the region and nation, leading to a spike in overdose deaths among children ages 12 to 17 (Source: “Fentanyl is fueling a record number of youth drug deaths,” Washington Post, May 22).
 
Across the country, fentanyl has largely fueled a more than doubling of overdose deaths among teens since the start of the pandemic, according to a Washington Post analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released this month.
 
Many pediatricians surveyed nationwide report feeling underprepared to counsel patients on opioid use, the study’s authors found in an analysis of survey results. As providers try to catch up and government agencies weigh how best to respond, many schools are stocking overdose reversal medication as recently recommended by the Biden administration and are working to teach students and families about the dangers.