Teen opioid deaths surge as treatment remains scarce.
Fewer than 1 in 3 US teens with opioid use disorder receive treatment as overdose deaths tripled since 2018.
Why it matters
- Drug overdoses are now a leading cause of death among US teens.
- The surge in deaths is possibly driven by fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.
By the numbers
- 557 teens died of opioid overdose in 2023, nearly triple the number in 2018.
- Adult opioid deaths increased by 65% during the same period.
- Less than 10% of teens in treatment receive medication-assisted therapy.
The big picture
- The availability of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl is a major factor in the rise of teen opioid deaths.
- Many communities lack treatment options for teenagers with opioid use disorder.
- Medication-assisted treatments are underutilized due to legal hurdles and misconceptions.
What they're saying
- Experts emphasize the need for family and community involvement in treatment.
- Incentivizing medication adherence has shown effectiveness in treatment.
Caveats
- The study does not cover all possible reasons for the rise in teen opioid deaths.
What’s next
- Research is ongoing to find the most effective treatment strategies for adolescents.