Our Kids are Dying of Drug Overdoses

KOMORN LAW

STATE and FEDERAL
Aggressive Legal Defense
All Criminal Allegations / DUI / Drugs
Since 1993

THE KIDS AREN’T ALRIGHT, THEY’RE DYING OF DRUG OVERDOSES

From May 2022 to May 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an alarming 37 percent increase in American lives lost due to overdoses, totaling over 112,000 fatalities.

This staggering surge highlights the urgent need for effective measures to address this crisis, emphasizing the crucial role of prevention and intervention in combating this devastating trend.

The vast majority of those who perished were adults, but drug overdoses are claiming the lives of young Americans at an alarming rate. The number of fatalities skyrocketed from 31 in July 2019 to 87 in May 2021, marking a period of unprecedented statistics.

When analyzing data for Americans aged 10 to 19 years old, the CDC discovered a similar trend to that seen in adults: a majority of adolescent deaths caused by drug overdoses are males.

However, among these fatalities, there is a larger proportion of girls compared to women.

More boys in the tween and teenage age group are dying from drug overdoses compared to girls, with the number being more than double.

Attorney Michael Komorn

Attorney Michael Komorn

State / Federal Legal Defense

With extensive experience in criminal legal defense since 1993 from pre-arrest, District, Circuit, Appeals, Supreme and the Federal court systems.

KOMORN LAW (248) 357-2550

Another significant distinction is the underlying cause behind these tragic overdose cases.

Among adults, individuals who engage in polydrug use face a higher risk of fatal overdose compared to those consuming a single substance.

The most prevalent combinations involve the concurrent use of fentanyl with another opioid, such as a prescription medication, or fentanyl combined with a stimulant like cocaine or methamphetamine.

Fentanyl is frequently attributed as the root cause.

Fentanyl is the primary cause of fatal overdoses among adolescents. Fentanyl is involved in 84 percent of fatal overdoses among teens, and it constitutes 56 percent of all overdoses.

Fentanyl is an incredibly potent opioid, surpassing the strength of morphine by an estimated 100 times. This makes it a powerful drug often used in hospital settings. However, it is crucial to note that teens and tweens generally possess a limited tolerance to opioids due to their lack of exposure, and fentanyl’s heightened potency greatly increases the risk of overdose for this demographic.

Many young people unknowingly consume fentanyl when they mistakenly consume counterfeit pills that they think are prescription opioids, stimulants, or other illicit drugs that have been adulterated with this substance.

This inadvertent use can increase the risk of overdose, as individuals who are unaware they are consuming fentanyl are less likely to have naloxone or fentanyl test strips readily available for reversing an overdose.

In 67% of adolescent overdose deaths, there was an opportunity for bystanders to intervene, yet it was only in less than half of those cases that Naloxone was administered.

Only 10% of teenagers and pre-teens who succumbed to a drug overdose had sought treatment for substance abuse, while just 14% had previously encountered a nonfatal overdose.

Related Articles

Cannabis – The Rise and Fall and Trail of Survivors Pile Up

Cannabis – The Rise and Fall and Trail of Survivors Pile Up

Thieves make off with 1,000 pounds of premium flower in cannabis from a corporate grower in Michigan. Then, the GM sells off 650+ pounds to pay employees.The recent theft of over 1,000 pounds of marijuana from 305 Farms, a corporate cannabis grower in West Michigan,...

Nuclear waste headed to southeast Michigan landfill

Nuclear waste headed to southeast Michigan landfill

What happened to the nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project? It's coming to Michigan so New York can be a cleaner place.August 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is transporting nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project (Read it) to the Wayne Disposal facility in...

Michigan Appeals Court Decision on Cannabis Use and Probation

Michigan Appeals Court Decision on Cannabis Use and Probation

Michigan Court of Appeals - Recreational Cannabis Use and ProbationRecently, another pivotal case, People v. Lopez-Hernandez, was decided by the Michigan Court of AppealsAt Komorn Law, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients and staying at the...

Facial Recognition and Wrongful Arrests

Facial Recognition and Wrongful Arrests

Facial RecognitionHow Technology Can Lead to Mistaken-Identity Arrests Facial recognition technology has become increasingly prevalent in law enforcement, but its use raises critical questions about civil liberties and accuracy. One landmark case sheds light on the...

More Posts

Warrantless Searches in Michigan

Warrantless Searches in Michigan

I don't need a warrant for that...In Michigan, as in the rest of the United States, the Fourth Amendment of the fading Constitution provides individuals with protection...

read more
Michael Komorn-Criminal Defense Attorney

About Your Attorney

Attorney Michael Komorn

Categories

Other Topics

Driving Under the Influence

Michigan

Your Rights

Michigan Court of Appeals

Law Firm VIctories

Share This