The article highlights the drug addiction struggles of 23-year-old Justin Carlyle, who has faced severe substance use, including fentanyl, since his teenage years. Despite the darkness, there is an encouraging trend emerging; fatal drug overdoses among young adults, especially Gen Z, have significantly decreased. Research shows a 47% reduction in drug death risk for 20 to 29-year-olds from 2021 to the latest figures. This shift is hopeful news for families affected by addiction, exemplified by Jon Epstein, highlighting a victory in the battle against fentanyl.
"What we're seeing is a massive reduction in [fatal] overdose risk, among Gen Z in particular," said Nabarun Dasgupta, an addiction researcher at the University of North Carolina.
"I was real young. I was 13 or 14 when I tried cocaine, crack cocaine, for the first time," Carlyle said, speaking to NPR on the streets of Kensington.
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