HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Drug overdoses have grown exponentially in recent years as more drugs are being laced with the deadly substance, fentanyl.
Addiction prevention specialists share that with the increase in drug overdoses among the youth, there's a strong importance for substance education and the life-saving medicine, naloxone.
Dr. Ellen Eaton, with UAB's Division of Infectious Diseases, says, "really in the last 6 to 8 months that I'm seeing more and more patients who have fentanyl in their system who did not expect it to be there, and many are surprised and concerned."
Dr. Rebekah Savage, with UAB's Division of Adolescent Medicine, says, "young people are not using fentanyl knowingly, is what I'm seeing. They're not usually seeking that out."
And Carie Wimberly, Executive Director, of the Addiction Prevention Coalition of Birmingham, shares, "this increase has been higher than anything that I have experienced."
The deadly substance, fentanyl, is surfacing in more than just pain pills, it's been found in Xanax, Marijuana and even vapes.
"Vapes have been found with fentanyl in them, which is terrifying because that has been such a popular, you know, substance and vehicle for consuming for especially middle school and high school students," Wimberly said.
And you may have recently heard the name, 'Naloxone' or 'Narcan' as a treatment for drug overdose.
"Naloxone is an opioid overdose strategy that can be given by any bystander simply through the nose with a nasal injection," Dr. Eaton said.
Medical professionals say the spray is very safe and could save lives. This has brought up the idea to have the medicine at schools.
"If we are doing preventative and interventions on campus, like having AEDs for cardiac arrest, we absolutely need to have naloxone on campus for teachers, families and students. And we need to educate them on how to use naloxone," Dr. Eaton said.
They also encourage the usage of fentanyl testing strips as a method for harm reduction.
"We have to acknowledge that youth and adolescents are going to experiment. We have to acknowledge that my patients, who are many of them young and otherwise healthy, are going to experiment," Dr. Eaton said.