Indiana’s Marion County Identified as Youth Overdose Hotspot
New research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has shed light on a disturbing trend in Marion County, Indiana. A recent study has named Marion County as one of the cities in the United States grappling with a significant increase in youth overdose deaths. The research, which focused on fatal overdoses among adolescents aged 14 to 18 years old in 2022, labeled Marion County as a ‘hotspot’ for this deadly issue.
The study discovered that the surge in overdose deaths among youth in Marion County was not a result of increased drug use among adolescents. Surprisingly, illicit drug use, excluding cannabis, has actually decreased significantly among 12th graders in the United States since 2002, from 21% to 8%. However, the introduction of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, into the illicit drug market has made narcotics deadlier. Fentanyl can be lethal even in minuscule amounts, with a deadly dose small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil. The mixing of fentanyl with other drugs has tragically claimed the lives of an average of 22 adolescents per week in the United States throughout 2022.
Marion County joins 18 other jurisdictions that have been identified as hotspots for youth overdose deaths. This designation is given to places with at least 20 overdose deaths and rates surpassing the national average. While the majority of the cities listed in the report are located on the West Coast, Marion County stands out as the only hotspot in Indiana.
Further analysis of the research found that Maricopa County in Arizona and Los Angeles County in California experienced the highest number of fatal youth overdoses in 2022, with 117 and 111 deaths respectively.
The devastating impact of fentanyl has taken a toll on Marion County for the past three years. The narcotic not only contributes to youth overdoses but has also become a leading cause of death in the area overall, according to the Marion County Coroner’s Office. In 2022, 852 individuals in Marion County lost their lives to drug overdoses, with opiates, primarily fentanyl, accounting for 81% of these deaths. This figure is more than triple the number of homicides and car crash fatalities recorded in the same year.
Recent tragedies outside of Marion County serve as a chilling reminder of the urgency to address this issue. Last year, two Avon high school students lost their lives within a little over a month of each other to drug overdoses.
In light of these distressing findings, researchers have offered recommendations to combat this troubling trend. One suggestion is to make the overdose-reversing drug Narcan, a brand of naloxone, readily available in schools. While some districts in Indiana have chosen to provide this life-saving drug, it is not mandated statewide. Additionally, individuals seeking addiction treatment options in Indiana can visit in.gov/fssa/addiction/ or reach out to the Indiana Mental Health and Addiction Hotline at 800-662-4357. When immediate assistance is required, dialing 211 can connect individuals with available providers, while dialing 911 during an emergency such as an overdose can save lives.
The devastating impact of youth overdose deaths in Marion County demands immediate attention and action. As the community grapples with this crisis, it is crucial to offer support and resources to young individuals who may be vulnerable to the allure of drugs. By working together and implementing comprehensive strategies, Marion County can begin to address this heartbreaking issue and prevent further loss of young lives.
