Consider This from NPR Fentanyl deaths among the young are dropping. Can the trend continue?
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Jun 10, 2025 Brian Mann, NPR's addiction correspondent, dives into the surprising drop in fentanyl deaths among young people, a trend saving thousands of lives. He discusses how national statistics reflect a shift in adolescent drug use influenced by the pandemic. Mann highlights the move from opioids towards safer alternatives like cannabis and the pivotal role of naloxone in recovery. However, he sounds the alarm on potential federal funding cuts, stressing the need for continued investment in addiction recovery to sustain this positive momentum.
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Justin Carlisle's Survival Story
- Justin Carlisle's decade-long struggle with drug addiction includes multiple overdoses reversed by Narcan.
- His survival symbolizes the unexpected decline in drug deaths among young Americans recently.
Young Adult Drug Deaths Plunge
- Drug deaths among people aged 20 to 29 have dropped nearly 50%, the lowest in over a decade.
- This demographic, usually most vulnerable, shows dramatic improvement in survival rates.
A Father's Loss and Hope
- John Epstein lost his 18-year-old son Cal to fentanyl in 2020 during the peak of youth drug deaths.
- The subsequent 40% drop in fatal overdoses gives families like John's hope for the future.