TODAY: Join CEPOP All-Participants Meeting at 3PM Eastern with Presentations from CDC on New Overdose Data and Boston Children’s on Fentanyl Vaccine Research
CEPOP will be hosting its February All-Participants Teleconference today at 3:00 pm ET. Today’s meeting includes presentations from Dr. Lauren Tanz from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to discuss routes of drug use in overdose deaths and Dr. Ofer Levy from Boston Children’s Hospital to share updates on a research initiative to develop a fentanyl overdose vaccine. Please contact Sanjyot Sangodkar for meeting details.
CDC Research Examines Characteristics of Drug and Alcohol Use in Minors
Recent findings from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessment on adolescent drug use suggest that the most commonly reported reasons for substance use is stress-related motivations. CDC reviewed characteristics of teen drug use from January 2014 through September 2022 among participants ages 13 to 18 and found that 73% of teens used drugs to feel more mellow, calm, and relaxed and to help with sleep. Research also showed that 44% indicated use to stop worrying or forget about bad memories and 40% to help with anxiety or depression. Researchers collected responses from the National Addictions Vigilance Intervention and Prevention Program’s Comprehensive Health Assessment for Teens (CHAT). Of the 15,693 CHAT assessments, 84% reported the use of marijuana, 49% used alcohol, 21% used other non-prescription drug use, 19% prescription drug use, and 11% used sedatives and tranquilizers. Also, 9% of teens reported prescription stimulant misuse, 8% had used methamphetamine, 7% had misused cough syrup, and 6% had partaken in hallucinogens.
Articles & Resources
CDC—Characteristics of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug Use Among Persons Aged 13-18 Years Being Assessed for Substance Use Disorder Treatment—United States, 2014-2022
What We Read Last Week
Several articles were published last week pertaining to the opioid epidemic, covering a variety of different components of the topic. Links to relevant articles are provided below.
Associated Press—Amid fentanyl crisis, Oregon lawmakers propose more funding for opioid addiction medication in jails
KFF—‘Fourth Wave’ of Opioid Epidemic Crashes Ashore, Propelled by Fentanyl and Meth
NPR—How Portugal eased its opioid epidemic, while U.S. drug deaths skyrocketed
This Week’s Calendar
In the week ahead, there are no relevant events or hearings noticed at this time. In the event that there are any changes to the schedule for this week, we will make additional information available.
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