IT SEEMS WHETHER THEY’RE PRESCRIPTION, OVER THE COUNTER OR ILLICIT, AMERICANS LIKE THEIR DRUGS.

AND A NEW STUDY SHOWS YOUNG AMERICANS ARE GROWING PARTICULARLY FOND OF POT AND HALLUCINOGENS.

IN THE LATE 80’S, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH STARTED TRACKING HOW OFTEN PEOPLE FROM AGES 19 TO 30 WERE USING DRUGS.

THE LATEST FIGURES FROM 2021 SHOW 43% OF YOUNG ADULTS USED POT IN THE PAST YEAR, 29% IN THE LAST MONTH AND 11% WERE DAILY USERS.

FOLKS ARE USING MARIJUANA VAPE CARTRIDGES MORE, BUT FLOWER—THAT’S MARIJUANA IN ITS NATURAL PLANT FORM—IS STILL THE MOST POPULAR WAY TO CONSUME THE DEVIL’S LETTUCE.

IN 2021, 8% OF YOUNG ADULTS SAID THEY TOOK HALLUCINOGENS IN THE PAST YEAR.

HALLUCINOGENS ARE THINGS LIKE LSD, MAGIC MUSHROOMS, OR MDMA.

OPIOID USE IS GOING DOWN, BUT THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS FROM OVERDOSES IS SOARING.

EPIC RESEARCH FOUND ABOUT HALF OF PATIENTS GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR OVERDOSES ARE TESTED FOR OPIODS, AND THE POSITIVITY RATE IS GOING DOWN.

GOOD NEWS, RIGHT? WELL, NOT QUITE.

FENTANYL, THE #1 KILLER OF AMERICANS 18-45, IS A SYNTHETIC OPIOID AND DOESN’T SHOW UP ON STANDARD SCREENINGS.

SO, ONLY 5% OF OVERDOSE PATIENTS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING TESTED FOR FENTANYL.

WHEN HOSPITALS DO TEST FOR FENTANYL, IT SHOWS UP ABOUT HALF THE TIME.

ACCORDING TO THE FOLKS BEHIND THE STUDY, THAT MEANS FENTANYL COULD BE KILLING EVEN MORE PEOPLE THAN WE THOUGHT