What Drug Causes The Most Teen Overdose Deaths? Texas Experts Say It’s Fentanyl

The overdose crisis has been an epidemic for years, and while there has been some improvement since the pandemic, many people and their families are still losing their loved ones to illicit drugs. Among these dangerous substances is fentanyl, which is probably one of the most deadly of them all—and your teen may be at risk. Luckily, if you catch the signs of a fentanyl addiction early, there is still hope; prompt treatment will be able to prevent an overdose and help your teen go back to living the life they were meant to.

The Dangers of Fentanyl

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that fentanyl was involved in an estimated 75% of teen overdose deaths between 2020 and 2024. According to experts with Clearfork Academy, fentanyl is so dangerous because it is up to 10 times stronger than other opioids, which include morphine and heroin.

Additionally, the drug is both cheap and easy to manufacture and can be made to look identical to prescription pills or mixed with other drugs to increase potency; as a result, it often goes undetected by drug users, greatly increasing the risk of addiction and overdose.

Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction in Teens

Clearfork Academy, a residential treatment center in Fort Worth that specializes in treating teen addiction, says that fentanyl addiction may manifest as extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, highly constricted pupils, or slurred speech; an addicted teen may also experience nausea, have cold, clammy skin, or lose their coordination.

If you notice these signs in your teen, you’re strongly encouraged to enroll them in a professional addiction treatment program. Addiction often arises from a combination of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors; this makes it a challenging disease to treat without the guidance of specialists.

Most importantly, don’t blame yourself or your teen. Again, addiction is a disease, and like many chronic diseases, it can only be treated by medical experts.

Treatment Options

Numerous residential facilities are dedicated to treating teenagers struggling with addiction to fentanyl and other opioids.

Many of the treatment programs available to you will include a medically supervised detox, evidence-based therapies that can help manage co-occurring mental health disorders, and support programs that encourage peer interaction and family involvement.

Some programs, like the ones Clearfork Academy offers in Texas, also include recreational activities and faith-based teachings to help patients develop healthier coping strategies beyond treatment.

But support doesn’t end when treatment does. In most cases, teens will have access to an alumni program that will monitor participants closely and continue providing ample opportunities for active engagement with the community. The goal of these programs is to foster long-lasting recovery to ensure patients continue to abstain even after they’ve graduated from treatment.

Fentanyl addiction can be frightening for you and your family, but there is always hope. The right treatment will set your teen on the path to healing and help them thrive again.

Clearfork Academy
City: Fort Worth
Address: 7820 Hanger Cutoff Road
Website: https://clearforkacademy.com/
Phone: +1-888-430-5149
Email: info@clearforkacademy.com