NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — Fentanyl overdoses have become a leading cause of death for minors over the last five years, even as drug use has dropped.

In an analysis of fentanyl-laced prescription pills in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) found that six out of 10 had a potentially lethal dose.

And the stories are all the same: Kids hear you can get pills on social media, and after a few taps, the package arrives, they hide in their bedroom and take a pill, and they’re later found dead.

Social media is the main culprit because fake prescription drugs can be purchased.

According to experts, law enforcement, and children’s advocates, companies like Snap, TikTok, Telegram, and Meta Platforms (Instagram and Facebook) are not keeping kids safe .

This crisis can be linked to the Johnson & Johnson incident in 1982, where seven people died because Tylenol bottles were tampered with. J&J recalled all the bottles and stopped production until they found the cause of the problem.

“As a result, we now have temper-resistant caps on over-the-counter medicines and in other products. That’s corporate responsibility,” said the Executive Director and CEO of the National Crime Prevention Council, Paul DelPonte. “For years, social media companies have known this has been happening, yet they continue to operate their platforms without any significant changes.”

Despite the data being hard to come by, the National Crime Prevention Council guesses that 80% of teen and young adult fentanyl poisoning deaths can be traced to social media.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Today's Top Stories

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KX NEWS.