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Resources from a Consortium for Science-Based Information on Children, Youth and Families

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Resources from a Consortium for Science-Based Information on Children, Youth and Families

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Select the "body" tab across the top for a drop-down menu of varied mental health challenges and topics

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Infoaboutkids.org is an ongoing collaboration of the Consortium for Science-Based Information on Children, Youth and Families. Our goal is to promote healthy child and family development by highlighting science-based information for those who care for, or work with, children. Our site, updated annually, links to other well-established, trustworthy websites for parents, other caregivers, and professionals. Our monthly blogs will summarize science-based information on timely topics. Information provided on the site is meant to complement and not replace any advice or information from a health or education professional.

Body

How does healthy child and adolescent physical development occur? This section looks at physical milestones from birth through adolescence, including puberty. Topics related to healthy development, including healthy eating, exercise and activity levels, and doctor visits are available. Also included are areas that may be of concern, such as specific health conditions, drug abuse, and pain management.

Mind

How do children think and learn? This section looks at milestones in thinking, understanding, problem solving, and language. School topics such as homework and test anxiety are included. This section also includes challenges such as Intellectual disabilities and learning problems.

Emotions

How are emotions understood and managed by children and adolescents? This section looks at milestones in developing emotional well-being. This also includes information about challenges to emotional well-being such as conflict, stress, and trauma. Specific mental and behavioral health conditions are also included.

Relationships

How can children and adolescents relate with others effectively? This section looks at how healthy relationships are developed with family members, peers, and with others in the schools and community. This also includes challenges that happen within the family such as conflict, in schools such as bullying, or in the community such as involvement with the legal system.

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Infoaboutkids.org is an ongoing collaboration of the Consortium for Science-Based Information on Children, Youth and Families. Our goal is to promote healthy child and family development by highlighting science-based information for those who care for, or work with, children. Our site, updated quarterly, links to other well-established, trustworthy websites for parents and professionals.

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We use data and statistics from New Yorkers to inform the public and health professionals about the health of the City over time, to establish priorities and to shape health policy at all levels of government.

Drug-related deaths: We link data from the Bureau of Vital Statistics and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in order to identify and explore deaths from overdose in NYC.

Each year, we release an Epi Data Brief summarizing the most recently available annual drug overdose death data. Read our 2018 report: Unintentional Drug Poisoning (Overdose) Deaths in New York City, 2000 to 2018 (PDF).

As of August 2017, the data is updated quarterly. See data tables, and our provisional quarterly reports:

2019

2018

2017

Fact Sheets by Borough

Overdose Deaths Among NYC Residents in 2018

Alcohol use among adults: Data from the Community Health Survey provide information about alcohol use among New York City adults. Data are updated annually. In 2012, an alcohol-focused survey provided more detail about patterns of use, harm related to other people's drinking, and awareness of selected sales practices and policies. See data tables.

Drug and alcohol use among youth Data from the NYC Youth Risk Behavior Survey provide information about alcohol and drug use among public high school aged youth and associated risk behaviors. Data are updated every two years. See data tables or download our fact sheet (PDF) on drug use related mortality, morbidity, and prevalence among New York City Youth (Ages 15-24).

Hospitalization data Data from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) allow exploration of alcohol and drug related hospital visits (admissions and emergency department visits). Data are updated annually. See data tables.

Publications Each year, selected data from these and other sources result in publications that assist the public in interpreting the data. See a list of publications about drugs and alcohol.

Resources

National Data Resources

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We use data and statistics from New Yorkers to inform the public and health professionals about the health of the City over time, to establish priorities and to shape health policy at all levels of government.

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2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

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2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

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New York State: Priority Area: Mental Health/Substance Abuse

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New York State: Priority Area: Mental Health/Substance Abuse

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The Burden of Poor Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Mental health and substance abuse are interlinked with physical health status and behaviors. Research has shown that many risky behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse, problem gambling and risky sexual activity as well as eating disorders, suicide, school failure, poor overall health, incarceration and homelessness often occur within the context of mental health concerns.

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) estimates that one in 13 New York State residents suffer from a substance abuse disorder. These figures do not fully depict the widespread impact in New York because of the millions of other individuals whose lives are also affected: the children, spouses, and extended families. The cost to society is compounded by the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse addiction, which impact public safety, health, welfare, and education throughout the state.

Indicators for Tracking Public Health Priority Areas

Objectives

Each community's progress towards reaching these Prevention Agenda Goals and Objectives will be tracked so members can see how close each community is to meeting the goals.

By the year 2013, reduce the age-adjusted suicide mortality rate in New York to no more than 4.8 per 100,000. Baseline: 6.0 per 100,000, Vital Statistics, 2003-2005. (Healthy People 2010 Goal)

By the year 2013, reduce the percentage of adult New Yorkers reporting 14 or more days with poor mental health in the last month to no more than 7.8%. Baseline: 10.4%, BRFSS, 2003-2005. (Healthy People 2010 Goal)

By the year 2013, reduce the percentage of adult New Yorkers reporting binge drinking (5+ drinks in a row) during the past month to no more than 13.4%. Baseline: 15.8%, BRFSS, 2006. (Healthy People 2010 Goal)

By the year 2013, reduce the age-adjusted drug-related hospitalization rate in New York to no more than 26.0 per 10,000. Baseline: 34.6 per 10,000, SPARCS, 2003-2005. (Healthy People 2010 Goal not available - 25 % reduction from 2003-05 baseline)

County Strategies and Partners Matrix

The County Strategies and Partners Matrix for Mental Health/Substance Abuse was compiled from the 2010-2013 community health assessments submitted in 2009 by 13 local health departments. It describes how local health departments collaborate with hospitals and community organizations to plan and address this priority to improve population health outcomes.

Issues

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Priority Area: Mental Health/Substance Abuse

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Mental health and substance abuse are interlinked with physical health status and behaviors. Research has shown that many risky behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse, problem gambling and risky sexual activity as well as eating disorders, suicide, school failure, poor overall health, incarceration and homelessness often occur within the context of mental health concerns.

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American Addiction Centers: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics

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American Addiction Centers: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics

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Quick Facts on Drug Addiction

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017.¹

Almost 74% of adults suffering from a substance use disorder in 2017 struggled with an alcohol use disorder.¹

About 38% of adults in 2017 battled an illicit drug use disorder.¹

That same year, 1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously.¹

In 2017, 8.5 million American adults suffered from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders.¹

Drug abuse and addiction cost American society more than $740 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime-related costs.²

Causes of Addiction

Genetics, including the impact of one's environment on gene expression, account for about 40% to 60% of a person's risk of addiction.³

Environmental factors that may increase a person's risk of addiction include a chaotic home environment and abuse, parent's drug use and attitude toward drugs, peer influences, community attitudes toward drugs, and poor academic achievement.³

Teenagers and people with mental health disorders are more at risk for drug use and addiction than other populations.³

Drug and alcohol abuse can be scary. What's more frightening is when you're the one battling a substance use disorder (SUD) or an alcohol use disorder (AUD), and you don't have a solution to the problem. American Addiction Centers provides 24-hour medical detox, premium treatment, and ongoing care. If you're struggling with an AUD or SUD and are looking for a solution, reach out to one of our admissions navigators at

Drug Use Statistics for Specific Population Demographics

In 2017, approximately 4% of the American adolescent population age 12 to 17 suffered from a substance use disorder; this equals 992,000 teens or 1 in 25 people in this age group.¹

About 443,000 adolescents age 12 to 17 had an alcohol use disorder in 2017, or 1.8% of adolescents.¹

An estimated 741,000 adolescents suffered from an illicit drug use disorder in 2017, or about 3% of this population.¹

About 5.1 million young adults age 18 to 25 battled a substance use disorder in 2017, which equates to 14.8% of this population and about 1 in 7 people.¹

About 3.4 million young adults age 18 to 25 had an alcohol use disorder in 2017, or about 10% of young adults.¹

About 2.5 million young adults had an illicit drug use disorder in 2017, or about 7.3% of this population.¹

Heroin use among young adults between 18 and 25 years old doubled in the past decade.⁴

Approximately 13.6 million adults age 26 or older struggled with a substance use disorder in 2017, or 6.4% of this age group.¹

About 10.6 million adults age 26 and older had an alcohol use disorder in 2017, or about 5% of this age group.¹

About 4.3 million adults age 26 or older had an illicit drug use disorder in 2017, or 2% of this age group.¹

More than 1 million elderly adults age 65 or older had a substance use disorder in 2017.⁷

That same year, about 978,000 of people in this age group had an alcohol use disorder and about 93,000 had an illicit drug use disorder.⁷

Two-thirds of the senior citizens over the age of 65 who struggle with alcohol use disorders developed the disorder before age 65.⁶

Between 21% and 66% of elderly individuals battling a substance use disorder also suffer from a co-occurring mental health disorder.⁶

In 2017, about 9.4% of men and 5.2% of women age 12 and older had a substance use disorder.⁷

Men may be more likely to abuse illicit drugs than women, but women may be just as prone to addiction as men when they do abuse them.⁸

American Indians and Alaska Natives age 12 and older had the highest rate of substance abuse and dependence in 2017, at 12.8%.⁷

Whites had a 7.7% rate of substance abuse in 2017.

About 6.8% percent of African Americans struggled with substance use disorders, while the percentage of Hispanics or Latinos who suffered from substance use disorders was 6.6%.⁷

Approximately 4.6% percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders suffered from substance use disorders.⁷

Asian Americans had the lowest rate of substance use disorders at 3.8%.⁷

Criminal Justice & Employment Status

Almost twice as many people who are unemployed struggle with addiction than those who are full-time workers, CNN Money reports around 17% of the unemployed and 9% of the employed population struggle with a substance use disorder.⁹

Of the 2.3 million people in American prisons and jails, more than 65% meet the criteria for addiction.¹⁰

Around 75% of individuals in a state prison or local jail who suffer from a mental illness also struggle with substance abuse, and the opposite is also true.¹¹

Statistics on Addiction to Specific Substances

About 966,000 American adults (over age 12) struggled with a cocaine use disorder in 2017.¹

That same year, 637,000 people age 12 and older received treatment for a cocaine use disorder either in their last or current stay in rehabilitation.⁷

About 652,000 people age 12 and older had a heroin use disorder in 2017.¹

Almost a quarter of people who abuse heroin will become addicted to it.¹²

Heroin use has risen in most demographic groups in the United States over the past 2 decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports.⁴

Individuals addicted to alcohol are 2 times more likely to also be addicted to heroin, while those addicted to marijuana are 3 times more likely, individuals addicted to cocaine are 15 times more likely, and people addicted to prescription drugs are 40 times more likely.⁴

The highest at-risk population for heroin addiction is non-Hispanic white males between the ages of 18 and 25 who live in large cities.⁴

The most common types of prescription drugs abused in 2017 were pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives.⁷

In 2017, about 1.7 million people age 12 and older had a pain reliever use disorder, or about 0.6% of this population.¹

Women may more rapidly develop a prescription painkiller dependence than men. They are also more likely to have chronic pain, be prescribed pain relievers, and receive higher doses.¹²

According to a study published in the journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, individuals who were admitted to opioid treatment programs who abused only prescription opioids, or those who abused both heroin and prescription opioids, were about 5 years younger than individuals admitted solely for heroin abuse or dependency.¹³

Approximately 4.1 million American adults over the age of 12 battled a marijuana use disorder in 2017.¹

The majority of people struggling with marijuana addiction in 2017 were between the ages of 12 and 25.¹

Almost 6% of full-time college students in the United States were daily marijuana smokers in 2014. This is more than triple the number of daily smokers in this population 20 years prior.¹⁴

In 2017, an estimated 14.5 million American adults age 12 and older battled an alcohol use disorder, or 5.3% of this population.¹

Over half of all American adults have a family history of problem drinking or alcohol addiction.¹⁵

More than 10% of U.S. children live with a parent with alcohol problems.¹⁶

An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually.¹⁶

Alcohol is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the United States.¹⁶

47% of the 78,529 liver diseases among people age 12 and older in 2015 involved alcohol.¹⁶

40% of all hospital beds in the United States are used to treat conditions related to alcohol consumption.¹⁵

Statistics on Addiction Treatment

In 2017, an estimated 20.7 million people age 12 and older needed treatment for a substance use disorder. Only 4 million people received treatment, or about 19% of those who needed it.¹

In 2017, of the more than 18 million people who needed but did not receive treatment for substance use, only 1 million, or 5.7%, of those people felt they needed treatment.¹

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has more than 120,000 groups in more than 175 countries around the world, with more than 2 million members.¹⁷

There are over 14,500 specialized substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States providing a variety of care options, including counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, case management, and other forms of care.¹⁸

The relapse rate for substance use disorders is estimated to be between 40% and 60%. This rate is similar to rates of relapse for other chronic diseases such as hypertension or asthma.¹⁹

Addiction is considered a highly treatable disease, and recovery is attainable. About 10% of American adults who are at least 18 years old say they are in recovery from an alcohol or drug abuse issue.²⁰

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Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics (Facts About Addiction)

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Read on to learn more about alcohol and drug use statistics in the U.S. as well as specific drug statistics and the prevalence of substance use disorders.

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Local coalition with a mission to decrease youth and young adult substance misuse

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Just Talk - Parents Y ou Matter

Interested in a workshop to build your skills to communicate with your child, recognize changes in behavior, and find community resources for behavioral health? We offer our Just Talk - PYM virtually. Reach out to Abby at abigail@sipcw.org for more information.

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Just Talk - Parents Y ou Matter Interested in a workshop to build your skills to communicate with your child, recognize changes in behavior, and find community resources for behavioral health? We offer our Just Talk - PYM virtually. Reach out to Abby at abigail @sipcw .org for more information.

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CHASI's Next Step Center is a hub for people and families struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and substance use. We offer options for people seeking treatment, activities and workshops for people engaging in recovery, and support for families helping a loved one. The Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

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CHASI's Next Step Center is a hub for people and families struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and substance use. We offer options for people seeking treatment, activities and workshops for people engaging in recovery, and support for families helping a loved one.

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APA Style MLA Style AMA Style

NIDA. (2015, July 29). Addiction Science. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/addiction-science

TEDMED 2014

"Why do our brains get addicted?," TEDMED 2014

Need a tool to help people stay drug-free?

Featured Publication

Addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.

Other Articles of Interest

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Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will.

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Cannabis (Marijuana) | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa.

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Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Opioids

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Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Opioids

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Hi there! Mind Matters (formerly referred to as Mind Over Matter) is a series that explores the ways that different drugs affect your brain, body, and life. In this issue we are going to talk about opioids.
View the Mind Matters Teacher's Guide.
Ways opioid medicines are misused:

not following the instructions from your doctor

taking pills that are not prescribed for you

taking opioids to get high

You may have been hearing a lot about opioids lately. It's possible you know them as drugs called oxy or Vikes.

Opioids have been used for thousands of years. Some opioids come from plants. Others are made in a lab.

Prescription opioids are used as medicine but can also be misused. Illegal opioids are only used to get high. Misusing prescription opioids or taking any illegal opioid can be dangerous.

What are opioids?

Medicine

Doctors prescribe opioids to people who are in serious pain from things like dental surgery, sports injuries, and cancer.

If people follow their doctor's instructions and take the right amount of medicine, opioids can help their pain go away.

But these medicines can also be dangerous if misused.

Examples of opioid pills are OxyContin®, Percocet®, and Vicodin®. People sometimes call opioid medicines different names like Happy Pills, Hillbilly Heroin, OC, Oxy, Percs, or Vikes.

Heroin and Fentanyl

Heroin is an illegal opioid that people use to get high, often with a needle.

It can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance called black tar heroin.

Sometimes people call heroin names like big H, horse, brown sugar, hell dust, and smack.

Another illegal opiod is fentanyl, a white powder many times more powerful than heroin.

Sometimes street heroin is laced (mixed) with fentanyl and this causes many overdoses.

Both opioid medicine and illegal opioids like heroin and fentanyl can cause addiction, overdose, or even death. Learn more on our Drug Facts page: How many teens misuse prescription drugs?
How do opioids work?

Opioids affect nerve cells (neurons) in your brain and body. They tell your brain to block pain and they also make you feel calm and happy.

What are opioids' effects?

Short-Term Effects

Feelings of calm, sleepiness, confusion

Slowed or stopped breathing (can cause fatal overdose)

Nausea, vomiting

Constipation

Long-Term Effects
Learn more: See our latest updates on opioids and prescription drugs.
How do you become addicted to opioids?

More people in the U.S. die from opioid overdoses than from other drugs.

Over time, the body gets used to having the drug and feels terrible without it. Withdrawl is like having the flu but much worse, and it can make it hard to stop taking the drug. If a person starts seeking and taking an opioid despite how it is interfering with work, school, or relationships, it is called addiction.

It's important to know that anyone can become addicted to opioids. It doesn't matter where you live or how smart you are. There is no way to predict who is likely to become addicted.
Learn more: What questions do teens ask about opioids and prescription drugs?
How do opioids affect your life?

If you are addicted to opioids, the drug can take over your life. Getting more opioids and getting high can become all you think about. And it makes it hard for you to enjoy things that used to make you happy.
Can you imagine if the things you loved no longer made you feel happy?
What if someone I know needs help?

If you think a friend or family member has a problem with drugs, talk to an adult you trust - like a parent, coach, or teacher - right away. Remember, treatment is available and people can get better.

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Mind Matters: The Body's Response to Opioids | NIDA for Teens

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Hi there! Mind Matters (formerly referred to as Mind Over Matter) is a series that explores the ways that different drugs affect your brain, body, and life. In this issue we are going to talk about opioids. View the Mind Matters Teacher's Guide.

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Opioids, sometimes called narcotics, are a type of drug. They include strong prescription pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and tramadol. The illegal drug heroin is also an opioid. Some opioids are made from the opium plant, and others are synthetic (man-made).

A doctor may give you a prescription opioid to reduce pain after you have had a major injury or surgery. You may get them if you have severe pain from health conditions like cancer. Some doctors prescribe them for chronic pain.

Opioids can cause side effects such as drowsiness, mental fog, nausea, and constipation. They may also cause slowed breathing, which can lead to overdose deaths. If someone has signs of an overdose, call 911:

The person's face is extremely pale and/or feels clammy to the touch

Their body goes limp

Their fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color

They start vomiting or making gurgling noises

They cannot be awakened or are unable to speak

Their breathing or heartbeat slows or stops

Other risks of using prescription opioids include dependence and addiction. Dependence means feeling withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug. Addiction is a chronic brain disease that causes a person to compulsively seek out drugs, even though they cause harm. The risks of dependence and addiction are higher if you misuse the medicines. Misuse can include taking too much medicine, taking someone else's medicine, taking it in a different way than you are supposed to, or taking the medicine to get high.

Opioid misuse, addiction, and overdoses are serious public health problems in the United States. Another problem is that more women are misusing opioids during pregnancy. This can lead to babies being addicted and going through withdrawal, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Opioid misuse may sometimes also lead to heroin use, because some people switch from prescription opioids to heroin.

The main treatment for prescription opioid addiction is medication-assisted treatment (MAT). It includes medicines, counseling, and support from family and friends. MAT can help you stop using the drug, get through withdrawal, and cope with cravings. There is also a medicine called naloxone which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and prevent death, if it is given in time.

To prevent problems with prescription opioids, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions when taking them. Do not share your medicines with anyone else. Contact your doctor if you have any concerns about taking the medicines.

NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Opioid Misuse and Addiction: MedlinePlus

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Opioids, sometimes called narcotics, are a type of drug. They include strong prescription pain relievers, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and tramadol. The illegal drug heroin is also an opioid. Some opioids are made from the opium plant, and others are synthetic (man-made).

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What is marijuana? What is cannabis?

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The terms cannabis and marijuana are often used interchangeably. Extracts from the plant can be made into hash oil or wax. Cannabis products contain the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). They can also contain more than 400 other chemicals.

How do people use marijuana?

People who use marijuana may roll loose marijuana leaves into a cigarette (called a joint) or smoke it in a pipe or a water pipe, often referred to as a bong. Some people mix marijuana into foods (called edibles) or use it to brew a tea. Another method is to slice open a cigar and replace some or all of the tobacco with marijuana, creating what is known as a blunt. Some people are vaping-using electronic vaporizers (called e-vaporizers or vapes) that allow people to inhale vapor and not smoke. Another popular method on the rise is vaping THC-rich resins extracted from the marijuana plant, an often dangerous practice called dabbing.

How many teens use marijuana?

NIDA's annual Monitoring the Future survey reports that marijuana use has remained stable over the past few years among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students. About 10 percent of 8th graders, 26 percent of 10th graders, and 37 percent of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the last year. At the same time, teens are developing more positive attitudes about using marijuana, with 71 percent of high school seniors saying they do not view regular marijuana smoking as very harmful.

Researchers have found that the use of marijuana and other drugs usually peaks in the late teens and early twenties, then declines in later years. Therefore, marijuana use among young people remains a natural concern for parents and is the focus of continuing research, particularly regarding its impact on brain development, which continues into a person's early twenties. Researchers are studying how long marijuana's effects last and if the changes could be permanent.

How does marijuana produce the high?

When people smoke marijuana, they feel its effects almost immediately. The psychoactive chemical THC spreads to every organ in the body, including the brain, and attaches to specific receptors on nerve cells. This affects the areas of the brain that control pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, appetite, pain, and sensory and time perception.

THC is structurally similar to chemicals produced naturally by the body, called endocannabinoids, which play a role in normal brain development and function. Because of the endocannabinoid system's wide-ranging influence over many critical functions, marijuana can have multiple effects-not just on the brain, but on a person's general health. Some of these effects last only as long as marijuana is in the body while others may build up over time to cause longer-lasting problems, including addiction.

Although detectable amounts of THC can remain in the body for days or even weeks after use, the noticeable effects of smoked marijuana usually last from 1 to 3 hours. If consumed in foods, the effects come on slower and can last for many hours.

What are marijuana's effects on the brain, body, and behavior?
Short-term effects (while using or right after using)

learning, attention, and memory problems

distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)

poor coordination and motor skills

increased heart rate

anxiety, paranoia

psychosis (not common)

Effects that last longer than the short term (a few days) but may not be permanent

learning and memory problems

sleep problems

Long-term effects (effects of repeated use)

risk of marijuana addiction

long-term learning and memory problems

if heavy use begins during youth

risk for chronic cough, bronchitis

risk of schizophrenia in some people with higher genetic risk

in rare cases, risk of recurrent episodes of severe nausea and vomiting

What determines how marijuana affects an individual?

Marijuana can be addictive. People who begin using being before 18 are more likely to develop marijuana use disorder than adults.

Like any other drug, marijuana's effects on a person depends on many factors, including the person's previous experience with the drug or other drugs, biology (e.g., genes), how the drug is taken, and the drug's potency (its strength).

How important is marijuana potency?

Potency-the amount of THC contained in the marijuana-has been increasing steadily in the past few decades as marijuana farmers respond to market demand. These findings are based on analyses of marijuana samples seized by law enforcement.

So what does this actually mean? For someone new to the drug, it may mean exposure to higher concentrations of THC, with a greater chance of a negative or unpredictable reaction. For those more experienced with marijuana, it may mean a greater risk for addiction if they are exposing themselves to high doses on a regular basis. However, the full range of consequences linked with marijuana's higher potency is not well understood. It is unknown how much people who use marijuana adjust for the increase in potency by using less.

Does using marijuana lead to other drug use?

The majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other "harder" substances, like cocaine or heroin. However, some research shows that people often try marijuana before trying other substances. We also know from animal studies that rats given repeated doses of THC show heightened behavioral responses and altered brain activation not only when further exposed to THC, but also when exposed to other drugs such as morphine. Researchers are now looking at the possibility that exposure to marijuana as a teen can cause changes in the brain that make a person more likely to get addicted to marijuana or other drugs, such as alcohol, opioids, or cocaine.

It is important to point out, however, that research has not fully explained any of these observations, which are complex and likely to involve a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors.

Does smoking marijuana cause lung cancer?

Because edibles contain marijuana are often unlabeled or poorly labeled, teens can use too much waiting for the high and end up in the emergency room with side effects.

Studies have not found an increased risk of lung cancer in marijuana smokers compared with nonsmokers. However, marijuana smoke does irritate the lungs and increases the likelihood of other lung and breathing problems. Moreover, many people who smoke marijuana also smoke cigarettes, which do cause cancer, and research suggests that quitting tobacco can be harder if the person uses marijuana.

Can marijuana produce withdrawal symptoms when someone quits?

Yes. Many people who use the drug long-term and then stop have symptoms that are similar to those of nicotine withdrawal-irritability, sleep problems, anxiety, decreased appetite and various forms of physical discomfort-which may prompt relapse (a return to drug use). Withdrawal symptoms are generally mild and peak a few days after use has stopped. They gradually disappear within about 2 weeks. While these symptoms do not pose an immediate threat to health, they can make it hard for someone to stop using the drug. Because withdrawal is not as obvious or as painful as withdrawal symptoms from some other drugs such as opioids, many people do not realize that stopping marijuana use can cause withdrawal symptoms.

How harmful is K2/Spice (or "synthetic cannabinoids")?

Synthetic cannabinoids, which are sometimes also called K2 or Spice, consist of many human-made mind-altering chemicals that are either sprayed on dried, shredded plant material to be smoked, or sold as liquids to be inhaled in e-vaporizers. These chemicals are called cannabinoids because they have chemicals that act on the same brain cell receptors as THC, but are often much more powerful and unpredictable. Because of this similarity, synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes misleadingly called "synthetic marijuana" (or "fake weed"), and are often labeled "not fit for human consumption." Many are now illegal, but their manufacturers are constantly creating new chemical compounds to sidestep legal restrictions. Their effects, like the ingredients, often vary, but emergency rooms report large numbers of young people appearing with rapid heart rates, vomiting, and negative mental responses including hallucinations after using these substances. Some states are reporting an increased number of overdose cases involving synthetic cannabinoid products where users are experiencing severe bleeding, likely due to product contamination.

Are there treatments for people addicted to marijuana?

Behavioral therapies are available and are similar to those used for treating other drug or alcohol addictions. These include motivational enhancement therapies to develop people's own motivation to stay in treatment; cognitive behavioral therapies to teach strategies for avoiding drug use and its triggers (and for effectively managing stress); and motivational incentives, which provide vouchers or small cash rewards for showing up for treatment and staying drug free.

Most teens don't use marijuana.

There are currently no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating marijuana addiction, although promising research is under way to find medications to treat withdrawal symptoms and ease craving and other effects of marijuana.

What are other risks related to marijuana that my child should know?

Many parents and teens may not have thought about some of these risks:

Regular marijuana use affects the brain and leads to impaired memory, judgment, and motor skills.

As with many misused drugs, marijuana use interferes with judgment, which can lead to risky behaviors. For example, someone using marijuana might drive under the influence or ride with someone else who is intoxicated and get into a car crash, or might engage in risky sexual behavior and contract a sexually transmitted infection.

Regular marijuana use has been linked with increased risk for several mental problems, including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, personality disturbances, and psychosis. Whether or not marijuana causes these problems, or is a response to them, is still unknown. More research is needed to confirm and better understand these links.

Research suggests that marijuana use during pregnancy may be linked to future developmental and hyperactivity disorders.However, the fact that pregnant women who use marijuana are also more likely to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol makes it difficult to determine exactly how much of these effects are due to marijuana. In addition, some research suggests that after pregnancy, THC passes into the breast milk of nursing mothers in moderate amounts. More research is needed to learn how this affects the baby's developing brain. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends against using marijuana during pregnancy.

Is marijuana medicine?

Research shows that some chemicals in marijuana, THC as well as cannabidiol (CBD), could have medical uses. The FDA has approved some THC-based medications to treat nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy and to help patients with AIDS gain an appetite. However, these medications are not smoked. The FDA has also approved a CBD oil-based medication to treat rare and severe forms of epilepsy. Additional clinical trials are being conducted to develop medications that contain THC and/or CBD for pain relief and seizure disorders.

How can I tell if my child has been using marijuana?

Parents should be aware of changes in their child's behavior, such as not brushing hair or teeth, skipping showers, changes in mood, and challenging relationships with family members, and a change in friends. In addition, changes in grades, skipping classes or missing school, loss of interest in sports or other favorite activities, changes in eating or sleeping habits, and getting in trouble in school or with law enforcement could all be related to drug use-or may indicate other problems. See the list of specific warning signs for marijuana use below.

If your child is using marijuana, he or she might:

seem unusually giggly and/or uncoordinated

have very red, bloodshot eyes or use eye drops often

have a hard time remembering things that just happened

have drugs or drug paraphernalia-drug-related items including pipes and rolling papers-possibly claiming they belong to a friend if confronted

have strangely smelling clothes or bedroom

use incense and other deodorizers

wear clothing or jewelry or have posters that promote drug use

have unexplained lack of money or extra cash on hand

Using cutting-edge imaging technology, scientists from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study will look at how childhood experiences, including use of any drugs, interact with each other and with a child's changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. As the only study of its kind, the ABCD study will yield critical insights into the foundational aspects of adolescence that shape a person's future.

These brain images show the reward-related circuity in the cortical and subcortical regions of the brain that tend to be more active when a person is successful at achieving a reward. While all of the images show the regions of the brain that are active to reward, the regions in yellow and red are the most active.

Courtesy of the ABCD Study. Adapted from Casey et al., 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2018.03.001

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Want to know more? Some FAQs about Marijuana | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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What is marijuana? What is cannabis? Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The terms cannabis and marijuana are often used interchangeably. Extracts from the plant can be made into hash oil or wax. Cannabis products contain the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

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A variety of information sources are available to monitor the prevalence and trends of marijuana use in the United States. The resources below cover a variety of marijuana-related issues, including data around usage, emergency department data, substance use and misuse data, policy measures, and other related tools.

Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States; 48.2 million people, or about 18% of Americans, used it at least once in 2019.¹

Recent research estimated that approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder.2 For people who begin using marijuana before age 18, the risk of developing marijuana use disorder is even greater.³

Marijuana use directly affects the brain, specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotion, and reaction time. Infants, children, and teens (who still have developing brains) are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of marijuana.4,5

Long-term or frequent marijuana use has been linked to increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in some users.6,7

Using marijuana during pregnancy may increase the person's risk for pregnancy complications. Pregnant and breastfeeding persons should avoid marijuana.⁸

CDC-SPONSORED SURVEYS

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [PDF - 535KB]pdf icon World's largest, continuously conducted telephone survey that tracks health behaviors, chronic diseases, and preventive health practices among noninstitutionalized adults in the United States.

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) Monitors six categories of priority health risk behaviors, including marijuana use, among high school youth at the national, state, and local levels.

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Collects state-specific, population-based data on marijuana use before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and children, aged 12 years and older, in the united states. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. Voluntary drug use questions ask about ever use of marijuana, age of first use, age when starting to use marijuana regularly, amount used, frequency of use, and time since last use. These data are available from the 2005-2007 survey period onward.

OTHER NATIONAL SURVEYS

Describes high school and youth trends for drug use and addiction, as presented in the annual Monitoring the Future survey. Includes emphasis on marijuana, cigarettes, alcohol, and prescription drugs.

Describes nationwide trends in drug abuse and addiction, focusing on past-month use for illicit drugs (including marijuana and prescription drugs), alcohol, and tobacco.

Reports data on the number of people in need of drug abuse treatment and characteristics of admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities.

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, "Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health," Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD, 2020.

2. S. Hasin et al., "Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States Between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013," JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 72, no. 12, pp. 1235-1242, 2015.

3. Lopez-Quintero et al., "Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)," Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 115, no. 1-2, pp. 120-130, 2011.

4. M. Filbey et al., "Long-term effects of marijuana use on the brain," in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 111, Center for BrainHealth, University of Texas, Dallas, TX 75235 The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM 87106 and, 2014, pp. 16913-16918.

5. H. Meier et al., "Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife," Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 109, no. 40, pp. E2657-64, 2012.

6. Di Forti et al., "Proportion of patients in south London with first-episode psychosis attributable to use of high potency cannabis: a case-control study," Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 233-238, 2015.

7. Di Forti et al., "High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis," Br J Psychiatry, vol. 195, no. 6, pp. 488-491, 2009.M. Di Forti et al., "Daily use, especially of high-potency cannabis, drives the earlier onset of psychosis in cannabis users," Schizophr Bull, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 1509-1517, 2014

8. National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, "The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: Current state of evidence and recommendations for research," Washington, DC, 2017.

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Marijuana and public health site resources such as federal and international agencies and organizations, and professional and nonprofit organizations.

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CDC Fact Sheet: Alcohol Use & Health Impact

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CDC Fact Sheet: Alcohol Use & Health Impact

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Drinking too much can harm your health. Excessive alcohol use led to more than 140,000 deaths and 3.6 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) each year in the United States from 2015 - 2019, shortening the lives of those who died by an average of 26 years. ¹ Further, excessive drinking was responsible for 1 in 5 deaths among adults aged 20-49 years. ² The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in 2010 were estimated at $249 billion, or $2.05 a drink. ³

What is a standard drink?

In the United States, a standard drink contains 0.6 ounces (14.0 grams or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in

12-ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).

8-ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).

5-ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).

1.5-ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).⁴

What is excessive drinking?

Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women or people younger than age 21.

Binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, is defined as consuming

For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion.

For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion.

Heavy drinking is defined as consuming

For women, 8 or more drinks per week.

For men, 15 or more drinks per week.

Most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent. ⁵

What is moderate drinking?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed. ⁴ The Guidelines also do not recommend that individuals who do not drink alcohol start drinking for any reason and that if adults of legal drinking age choose to drink alcoholic beverages, drinking less is better for health than drinking more. ⁴

There are some people who should not drink any alcohol, including those who are:

Younger than age 21.

Pregnant or may be pregnant.

Driving, planning to drive, or participating in other activities requiring skill, coordination, and alertness.

Taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.

Suffering from certain medical conditions.

Recovering from alcoholism or are unable to control the amount they drink.⁴

By adhering to the Dietary Guidelines, you can reduce the risk of harm to yourself or others.

Short-Term Health Risks

Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. These are most often the result of binge drinking and include the following:

Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.6,7

Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.⁶⁻¹⁰

Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.¹¹

Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.12,13

Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women.6,12,14,15

Long-Term Health Risks

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:

High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.6,16

Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.6,17

Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.6,16

Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.6,18

Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.6,19

Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.6,20,21

Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.⁵

By not drinking too much, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol-Related Disease Impact Application website. Accessed April 19, 2022.

2. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2020 - 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 9th Edition, Washington, DC; 2020.

3. Esser MB, Hedden SL, Kanny D, Brewer RD, Gfroerer JC, Naimi TS. Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009-2011. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140329.

4. World Health Organization. Global status report on alcohol and health-2018. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2018.

5. Greenfield LA. Alcohol and Crime: An Analysis of National Data on the Prevalence of Alcohol Involvement in Crime [PDF - 229 KB]. Report prepared for the Assistant Attorney General's National Symposium on Alcohol Abuse and Crime. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 1998.

6. Kanny D, Brewer RD, Mesnick JB, Paulozzi LJ, Naimi TS, Lu H. Vital Signs: Alcohol Poisoning Deaths - United States, 2010-2012. MMWR 2015;63:1238-1242.

7. Rehm J, Baliunas D, Borges GL, Graham K, Irving H, Kehoe T, et al. The relation between different dimensions of alcohol consumption and burden of disease: an overview. Addiction. 2010;105(5):817-43.

8. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Personal Habits and Indoor Combustions: A Review of Human Carcinogens, Volume 100E 2012. Available from: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100E/index.php.

9. Miller JW, Naimi TS, Brewer RD, Jones SE. Binge drinking and associated health risk behaviors among high school students. Pediatrics. 2007;119(1):76-85.

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Drinking too much alcohol can harm your health. Learn the facts | CDC

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Excessive alcohol use can lead to increased risk of health problems such as injuries, violence, liver diseases, and cancer.The CDC Alcohol Program works to strengthen the scientific foundation for preventing excessive alcohol use.

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Binge drinking is a serious but preventable public health problem.

Binge drinking is the most common and costly pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States. Binge drinking is defined as consuming 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women.

Most people who binge drink are not dependent on alcohol. ³ However, binge drinking is harmful on its own. It is associated with serious injuries and diseases, as well as with a higher risk of alcohol use disorder. ³

How common is binge drinking?

One in six US adults binge drinks, with 25% doing so at least weekly.¹

Binge drinking is just one pattern of excessive drinking, but it accounts for nearly all excessive drinking. Over 90% of US adults who drink excessively report binge drinking.³

Who binge drinks?¹

Binge drinking is most common among younger adults aged 18-34.

Binge drinking is more common among men than among women.

Binge drinking is most common among adults who have higher household incomes ($75,000 or more), are non-Hispanic White, or live in the Midwest.

For some groups and states, binge drinking is not as common, but those who binge drink do so frequently or consume large quantities of alcohol.

How many binge drinks are consumed?

One in four US adults who binge drink consume at least eight drinks during a binge occasion.¹

Overall, 17 billion total binge drinks are consumed by adults annually, or 467 binge drinks per adult who binge drinks.⁴

Four out of five binge drinks are consumed by men. 4

More than half of binge drinks are consumed by adults 35 and older. 4

People with lower incomes and lower levels of education consume more binge drinks per year.⁴

Most people younger than 21 who drink alcohol report binge drinking, often consuming large amounts. Among high school students who binge drink, 44% consumed eight or more drinks in a row.5,6

Binge drinking has serious risks.
Binge drinking is associated with many health problems,⁷⁻⁹ including:

Unintentional injuries such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, burns, and alcohol poisoning.

Violence including homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.

Sexually transmitted diseases.

Unintended pregnancy and poor pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage and stillbirth.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Sudden infant death syndrome.

Chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and liver disease.

Cancer of the breast (among females), liver, colon, rectum, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus.

Memory and learning problems.

Read more about the CDC study that found that excessive drinking in the U.S is a drain on the American economy.

Binge drinking costs everyone.

Excessive drinking, including binge drinking, cost the United States $249 billion in 2010, or $2.05 per drink. These costs were from lost work productivity, health care expenditures, criminal justice costs, and other expenses. Binge drinking accounted for 77% of these costs, or $191 billion.²

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends evidence-based interventions to prevent binge drinking and related harms.Recommended strategies include:

Using pricing strategies, including increasing alcohol taxes.

Limiting the number of retail alcohol outlets in a given area.

Holding alcohol retailers responsible for the harms caused by illegal alcohol sales to minors or intoxicated patrons (dram shop liability).

Restricting access to alcohol by maintaining limits on the days and hours of alcohol retail sales.

Consistently enforcing laws against underage drinking and alcohol-impaired driving.

Maintaining government controls on alcohol sales (avoiding privatization).

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also recommends screening and counseling for alcohol misuse in primary care settings.

1. Bohm MK, Liu Y, Esser MB, Mesnick JB, Lu H, Pan Y, Greenlund KJ. Binge drinking among adults by select characteristics and state - United States, 2018. MMWR 2021;70:41.

2. Sacks JJ, Gonzales KR, Bouchery EE, Tomedi LE, Brewer RD. 2010 national and state costs of excessive alcohol consumption. Am J Prev Med 2015;49:e73-e79.

3. Esser MB, Hedden SL, Kanny D, Brewer RD, Gfroerer JC, Naimi TS. Prevalence of alcohol dependence among US adult drinkers, 2009-2011. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140329.

4. Kanny D, Naimi TS, Liu Y, Lu H, Brewer RD. Annual total binge drinks consumed by U.S. adults, 2015. Am J Prev Med 2018;54:486-496.

5. Jones CM, Clayton HB, Deputy NP, et al. Prescription opioid misuse and use of alcohol and other substances among high school students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019. MMWR Suppl 2020;69(Suppl-1):38-46.

6. Esser MB, Clayton H, Demissie Z, Kanny D, Brewer RD. Current and binge drinking among high school students - United States, 1991-2015. MMWR 2017;66:474-476.

7. World Health Organization. Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health-2018. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2018.

8. Naimi TS, Lipscomb LE, Brewer RD, Colley BG. Binge drinking in the preconception period and the risk of unintended pregnancy: Implications for women and their children. Pediatrics 2003;11:1136-1141.

9. Iyasu S, Randall LL, Welty TK, et al. Risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome among northern plains Indians. 2002;288:2717-2723.

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Excessive alcohol use can lead to increased risk of health problems such as injuries, violence, liver diseases, and cancer.The CDC Alcohol Program works to strengthen the scientific foundation for preventing excessive alcohol use.

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What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. Tolerance occurs when you need a higher and/or more frequent amount of a drug to get the desired effects.

In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq ®, Duragesic ®, and Sublimaze ®.

Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States. In 2017, 59. percent of opioid-related deaths involved fentanyl compared to 14.3 percent in 2010.

What are Opioids?

Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant. Some opioids are made from the plant directly, and others, like fentanyl, are made by scientists in labs using the same chemical structure (semi-synthetic or synthetic).

How do people use fentanyl?

When prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl can be given as a shot, a patch that is put on a person's skin, or as lozenges that are sucked like cough drops.

The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids.

Some drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is because it takes very little to produce a high with fentanyl, making it a cheaper option. This is especially risky when people taking drugs don't realize they might contain fentanyl as a cheap but dangerous additive. They might be taking stronger opioids than their bodies are used to and can be more likely to overdose. To learn more about the mixture of fentanyl into other drugs, visit the Drug Enforcement Administration's Drug Facts on fentanyl.

How does fentanyl affect the brain?

Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. After taking opioids many times, the brain adapts to the drug, diminishing its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When people become addicted, drug seeking and drug use take over their lives.

Fentanyl's effects include

extreme happiness

drowsiness

nausea

confusion

constipation

sedation

problems breathing

unconsciousness

Can you overdose on fentanyl?

Yes, a person can overdose on fentanyl. An overdose occurs when a drug produces serious adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms. When people overdose on fentanyl, their breathing can slow or stop. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia can lead to a coma and permanent brain damage, and even death.

How can a fentanyl overdose be treated?

As mentioned above, many drug dealers mix the cheaper fentanyl with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine to increase their profits, making it often difficult to know which drug is causing the overdose. Naloxone is a medicine that can treat a fentanyl overdose when given right away. It works by rapidly binding to opioid receptors and blocking the effects of opioid drugs. But fentanyl is stronger than other opioid drugs like morphine and might require multiple doses of naloxone.

Because of this, if you suspect someone has overdosed, the most important step to take is to call 911 so they can receive immediate medical attention. Once medical personnel arrive, they will administer naloxone if they suspect an opioid drug is involved.

Naloxone is available as an injectable (needle) solution and nasal sprays (NARCAN ® and KLOXXADO ®).

People who are given naloxone should be monitored for another two hours after the last dose of naloxone is given to make sure breathing does not slow or stop.

Some states have passed laws that allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a personal prescription. Friends, family, and others in the community can use the nasal spray versions of naloxone to save someone who is overdosing.

Read more in Naloxone DrugFacts.

Can fentanyl use lead to addiction?

Yes. Fentanyl is addictive because of its potency. A person taking prescription fentanyl as instructed by a doctor can experience dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped. A person can be dependent on a substance without being addicted, but dependence can sometimes lead to addiction.

Addiction is the most severe form of a substance use disorder (SUD). SUDs are characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use that can be difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. When someone is addicted to drugs, they continue to use them even though they cause health problems or issues at work, school, or home. An SUD can range from mild to severe.

People addicted to fentanyl who stop using it can have severe withdrawal symptoms that begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken. These symptoms include:

muscle and bone pain

sleep problems

diarrhea and vomiting

cold flashes with goose bumps

uncontrollable leg movements

severe cravings

These symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and are the reason many people find it so difficult to stop taking fentanyl. There are medicines being developed to help with the withdrawal process for fentanyl and other opioids. The FDA has approved lofexidine, a non-opioid medicine designed to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Also, the NSS-2 Bridge device is a small electrical nerve stimulator placed behind the person's ear, that can be used to try to ease symptoms for up to five days during the acute withdrawal phase. In December 2018, the FDA cleared a mobile medical application, reSET®, to help treat opioid use disorders. This application is a prescription cognitive behavioral therapy and should be used in conjunction with treatment that includes buprenorphine and contingency management.

How is fentanyl addiction treated?

Like other opioid addictions, medication with behavioral therapies has been shown to be effective in treating people with a fentanyl addiction.

Medications: Buprenorphine and methadone work by binding to the same opioid receptors in the brain as fentanyl, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Another medicine, naltrexone, blocks opioid receptors and prevents fentanyl from having an effect. People can discuss treatment options with their health provider.

Counseling: Behavioral therapies for addiction to opioids like fentanyl can help people modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use, increase healthy life skills, and help them stick with their medication. Some examples include:

cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps modify the patient's drug use expectations and behaviors, and effectively manage triggers and stress

contingency management, which uses a voucher-based system giving patients "points" based on negative drug tests. They can use the points to earn items that encourage healthy living

Motivational interviewing, which is a patient-centered counseling style that addresses a patient's mixed feelings to change

These behavioral treatment approaches have proven effective, especially when used along with medicines. Read more about drug addiction treatment in our Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction DrugFacts.

Points to Remember

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. In its prescription form it is prescribed for pain, but fentanyl is also made illegally.

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths.

Illegal fentanyl is sold in the following forms: as a powder, dropped on blotter paper like small candies, in eye droppers or nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like real prescription opioids.

Illegal fentanyl is being mixed with other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is especially dangerous because people are often unaware that fentanyl has been added.

Fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. Its effects include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, unconsciousness, coma, and death.

The high potency of fentanyl greatly increases risk of overdose, especially if a person who uses drugs is unaware that a powder or pill contains it. They can underestimate the dose of opioids they are taking, resulting in overdose.

Naloxone is a medicine that can be given to a person to reverse a fentanyl overdose. Multiple naloxone doses might be necessary because of fentanyl's potency.

Medication with behavioral therapies has been shown to be effective in treating people with an addiction to fentanyl and other opioids.

Learn More

For more information about fentanyl and other opioids, visit:

For more information about the opioid reversal drug naloxone, visit: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone

References

1. Volpe DA, Tobin GAM, Mellon RD, et al. Uniform assessment and ranking of opioid Mu receptor binding constants for selected opioid drugs. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2011;59(3):385-390. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2010.12.007

2. Higashikawa Y, Suzuki S. Studies on 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-(N-propionylanilino)piperidine (fentanyl) and its related compounds. VI. Structure-analgesic activity relationship for fentanyl, methyl-substituted fentanyls and other analogues. Forensic Toxicol. 2008;26(1):1-5. doi:10.1007/s11419-007-0039-1

3. Nelson L, Schwaner R. Transdermal fentanyl: Pharmacology and toxicology. J Med Toxicol. 2009;5(4):230-241. doi:10.1007/BF03178274

4. Garnock-Jones KP. Fentanyl Buccal Soluble Film: A Review in Breakthrough Cancer Pain. Clin Drug Investig. 2016;36(5):413-419. doi:10.1007/s40261-016-0394-y

5. Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration. Fentanyl Fact Sheet. March 2015. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/fentanyl.pdf.

6. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs. Transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics. 2001;108(3):776-789.

7. Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administrati

8. on. Acetyl fentanyl Fact Sheet. July 2015. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/acetylfentanyl.pdf.

9. Gutstein H, Akil H. Opioid Analgesics. In: Goodman & Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 11th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2006:547-590.

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Fentanyl DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery.

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World Health Organization: Substance Abuse

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World Health Organization: Substance Abuse

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Diagnosis and treatment

Yaws (Endemic trepanomatoses)

Traditionally, laboratory-based serological tests such as Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) are widely used to diagnose treponemal infections (for example, syphilis and yaws). These tests cannot distinguish yaws from syphilis however, and the interpretation of results from these tests in adults who live in yaws endemic areas needs careful clinical assessment because of syphillis.

Rapid point-of-care tests that can be used in the field are widely available.
However, most of them are treponemal-based and cannot distinguish between past and current infection. Recently dual treponemal and nontreponemal rapid tests have become available, thus simplifying diagnosis in the field. These tests are able to detect both present and past infections to guide treatment of people with active infection.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to definitively confirm yaws by detecting the organisms in the skin lesions. It can also be used to monitor azithromycin resistance and this test will be very useful in the last phase of the eradication programme.

Either of 2 antibiotics - azithromycin or benzathine penicillin - may be used to treat yaws:

Azithromycin (single oral dose) at 30 mg/kg (maximum 2 gm) is the preferred choice in the WHO "Yaws Eradication Strategy" (the Morges Strategy) because of the ease of administration and logistical consideration in large-scale treatment campaigns.

Benzathine penicillin (single intramuscular dose) at 1.2 million units (adults) and 600 000 units (children). For patients allergic to penicillin and azithromycin, doxycycline 100mg (1 tab) orally, b.d. twice daily for 7 days may be used.

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Yaws (Endemic trepanomatoses) Traditionally, laboratory-based serological tests such as Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) are widely used to diagnose treponemal infections (for example, syphilis and yaws). These tests cannot distinguish yaws from syphilis however, and the interpretation of results from these tests in adults who live in yaws endemic areas needs careful clinical assessment because of syphillis.