Increasing OD risk, RN talks about the effects of accidental teenage overdoses and how they impact everyone.
A Local Nurse’s Perspective on the Teen Epidemic
At Fairview Hospital in Minnesota, Sarah Curry, a registered nurse (RN), has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of accidental overdoses, particularly among teenagers. Having spent years working in detox units and treatment centers, Curry knows how quickly an overdose can unravel a life.
“I’ve seen people lose themselves in these accidents,” said Curry. “What starts as a routine prescription for pain can end in tragedy.” For many teens, the path to addiction begins with something as innocent as a prescribed painkiller. Opioids like Norco (hydrocodone) are commonly prescribed after surgeries for things such as ACL recovery or healing from a broken leg. But when taken over a long period, these medications can trigger physical dependence, making it easy to slip into a bad habit.
“Teens often seek out these painkillers after their prescriptions run out,” Curry explains. “They don’t realize how dangerous it can be, either taking more than needed or seeking out pills on the street. It’s heartbreaking but a reality we see far too often.”
This opioid epidemic doesn’t only take a toll on patients, it also has a huge emotional impact on the nurses and healthcare workers on the front lines. Curry recalls her early days in the profession when the weight of seeing so many lives lost became too much.
However, it’s not just the patients who suffer. Nurses like Curry carry the emotional weight of these tragedies with them. Every single day.
“My first job, I could only stay for five years,” Curry says. “The emotional toll of watching so many people lose their everything, friends, family, their futures, right in front of me, became too much.”
“Nurses often form deep bonds with their patients, and the grief of losing one can be overwhelming, especially when they feel they could have done more.” Curry reflects on the countless patients, she cared for knowing full well that sometimes no matter how hard you try the outcome is out of your hands.
“The many relationships I’ve built and lost over the years have left me with grief and guilt. She adds, “But I know I did everything I could.”
As the opioid crisis continues to surge, many nurses experience burnout or emotional exhaustion. The ripple effect of overdoses is felt far beyond the hospital. Curry reflects on the stories of families she’s encountered over the years, mothers and fathers whose lives have been shattered by the overdose of a child. The heartbreak of losing a loved one to addiction is something no family should have to go through.
“I’ve seen what drugs do to families,” Curry said. “It’s terrible. It’s not just about the person who overdoses, it’s about everyone around them as well.”
In Minnesota and throughout the nation, there is a growing sense of urgency to address this crisis. From education pro-
grams to naloxone distribution, which is a component to reduce opioid-related overdose fatalities, and law enforcement interventions, communities are coming together to fight back. But as Curry and other healthcare professionals know, it’s not enough.
“We need to continue educating our kids and our communities because the cost of inaction is simply too high,” said Curry.
Fentanyl is driving surging overdoses in the U.S.
“Fentanyl is a powerful, synthetic opioid. It’s killing young people — and many of them don’t even know it exists,” stated the DFB campaign.
In 2020, 76% of drug deaths in people ages 15-24 involved fentanyl, as measured by the CDC. After this data was released the ad council created the phase and campaign Drop the F-Bomb (DFB). It was created for parents about fentanyl and encouraged them to be explicit with their kids about the risks of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is making drugs more deadly. It’s very common but deadly. It can be
used in fake pills that look like Adderall, Xanax, OxyContin, and other drugs. Most people don’t even know they are taking it this raises their risk of an overdose even more. Urge teens and everyone to only take pills that they have been prescribed, even a pill from a friend is not
safe. We must keep talking about these topics to keep teenagers safe.
“It doesn’t make them more likely to try drugs,” said the DFB.
Visit the website dropthefbomb.com/talk-to-your-kids for more information about fentanyl and how to start the convection about the f-bomb.
Teenagers and the rise of counterfeit pills
A growing number of teenagers are falling victim to counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl so potent that a single dose could be deadly. Last year, thousands of teens across the US died from fentanyl-related overdoses, after taking what they thought was a harmless pill.
“Teens don’t realize what they are reeling doing, just one mistake can be fatal,” said RN Nurse Addie Anderson.
This ‘One Pill Can Kill’ campaign was created to raise awareness about the dangers of these substances. It originated as a public health and safety effort by organizations like the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in response to the alarming rise in drug overdoses among young people. The campaign’s goal is to educate the public especially teens, parents, and educators about the deadly rise of taking pills not prescribed by a pharmacy. The message emphasizes that even one pill can be fatal, aiming to prevent overdoses and save lives through awareness and action.