Rising Opioid Use Disorder Among U.S. Youths: Implications for Global Health

Just now October 2, 2026 1 min read 📰 Medical Xpress

📋 Key Takeaway

A study indicates that 1% of adolescents and young adults in the U.S. suffer from opioid use disorder, with a notable increase in overdoses since 2019 due to fentanyl. This issue highlights the growing public health crisis related to substance abuse among youth. Understanding these trends is crucial for Iran as it faces its own challenges with drug addiction and trafficking.

One in 100 adolescents and young adults in the United States has an opioid use disorder (OUD) and, with the rise of fentanyl in the drug supply, overdoses in this age group have risen sharply since 2019.