Why teen overdose deaths are rising even as drug use falls
By Christine Thomas Over the past decade, campaigns warning teens about the dangers of drugs have had a measurable effect. Surveys indicate that overall teen drug use has declined, with fewer adolescents reporting the use of substances like prescription opioids. At first glance, the decline may seem like progress. However, teen overdose deaths are rising…
Opioid addiction in rural areas
By Kary Deng According to the University of New Hampshire, since 2016, opioid overdose deaths in rural America increased over 400 percent, with the hardest-hit communities in the United States. For young people in these areas, the risk of opioid misuse and addiction can be multiplied by a mix of limited healthcare access and economic…
Vulnerability in relation to genetics: Why some brains are more susceptible to addiction
By Artemis Molai Addiction is more likely to develop in certain brains than others. In studies reviewing families and heredity, approximately 50 to 60 percent of opioid use disorder risk is linked to genetics. Instead of genetics directly leading to opioid use disorder, the brain chemistry such as the brain’s reward circuit is impacted. Sharing…
Snapchat storefront: Disappearing messages make illegal drug sales too easy
By Shivani Ramanathan “Snapchat is not harmless messaging anymore, strangers know exactly where teens are, how to contact them, and that is not even what scares me the most,” worried Malini Alagappan. Alagappan is a concerned local parent who has been learning about the dangers of Snapchat for a few years. Snapchat is known for…
The healthcare response to addiction
By Anika Gupta Purdue Pharma has been ordered to pay $7.4 billion for its part in the opioid epidemic. The company has been criticized for its aggressive and deceptive marketing of OxyContin, an opioid painkiller, because it downplayed the potential dangers of addiction. Purdue Pharma is just one example of a broader pattern of pharmaceutical…
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