Social Media Apps Linked to Rise in Fentanyl Poisoning Deaths

 

Drug deaths among American teenagers have surged in recent years with counterfeit pills made of illicitly manufactured fentanyl at the root of the increase in poisonings. Federal officials are investigating the popular social media app Snapchat over its suspected role in the trafficking and sale of fentanyl-laced pills through the site. Some cases from Snapchat show that teens thought they were buying prescription pills, but the drugs they received were either laced with fentanyl or made of pure fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Social media networks, specifically their technology, can make it easy for drugs like fentanyl to reach younger Americans. Recently, the National Crime Prevention Council cited Snapchat as "the platform of choice for fentanyl drug dealers" because this app deletes messages between users over a short period of time making it harder to track the suppliers of lethal drugs. Representatives from Snap Inc. say they are working with law enforcement to fight the national fentanyl crisis by tracking accounts to dealers who are targeting kids and teens, shutting down suspected drug dealers' accounts on the platform, and moderating the site closely to detect illegal drug sales.

The best prevention is to educate ourselves and our youth to be informed about the prevalence and very real dangers of fentanyl and other drugs.