The United States is facing a growing crisis of drug deaths, particularly among the young population, with Colorado being hit hard by this alarming trend.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that drug overdose deaths have surged, claiming over 112,000 American lives from May 2022 to May 2023, marking a 37 percent increase compared to the previous 12-month period.

While the majority of those affected are adults, the number of young Americans losing their lives to drug overdoses is reaching unprecedented levels. The monthly total of overdose deaths among adolescents has risen significantly, from 31 in July 2019 to 87 in May 2021, based on the latest available data.

When examining data for Americans aged 10 to 19 years old, the CDC found that, similar to adults, most adolescents who die from drug overdoses are male. More than twice as many boys in this age group are dying from drug overdoses than girls. However, the proportion of girls among these fatalities is larger than among women.

The share of fatal overdoses among white, non-Hispanic adolescents is significantly higher than for their nonwhite counterparts, even more so than among adults.

The primary culprit behind these fatal overdoses among teens is fentanyl.

In fact, 84 percent of fatal overdoses among teenagers involve fentanyl, and 56 percent of all overdoses in this group are solely attributable to this potent opioid. This contrasts with adults, where multiple drug combinations, often involving fentanyl, contribute to overdose deaths.

Rates of prescription opioid misuse among adolescents and young adults have actually declined from 2015 to 2019. Additionally, deaths from heroin-involved overdoses have also decreased in recent years.

The prevalence of fentanyl in adolescent overdoses underscores the dangers posed by this highly potent opioid to individuals with little to no tolerance.

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Lastly, more than 4 in 10 adolescents who died from an overdose had a history of mental health conditions. Furthermore, there is evidence of a strong link between mental health conditions and drug overdoses among adults.

For this reason and many others, such as the rising rates of adolescent depression, the research shows all adults – whether caregivers or other people in an adolescent’s life – check in on their mental health regularly and recommend or seek treatment for any concerns as early as possible.

The escalating crisis of drug deaths, particularly among young Americans, demands urgent attention and targeted interventions.