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By Sophie Kao
Social media has always been known for being a major influencer on how people dress, study, talk, and more. This includes the way people can perceive unhealthy things such as drugs or alcohol.
When people use social media, what once may have been stigmatized is now being presented as harmless and aesthetic.
As the overdose rates in teenagers continue to rise, it is crucial to examine how social media contributes to this behavior and why awareness according to the new digital age should be expanded.
Social media often disguises harmful things as humor or trendy. One of these dangerous trends include “study drugs” where in videos, alcohol is mixed with prescription medication, claiming that it is a healthy coping method for stress and anxiety.
Repeated exposure to these kinds of videos desensitize viewers making them perceive what they imagined once as dangerous as a coping mechanism instead.
Misinformation is often spread quickly by social media. Many teenagers believe prescription pills are safe because they appear to be more controlled and medical. As a result, counterfeit pills that look like prescription pills have become increasingly common. Counterfeit pills are disguised as safe and legitimate; however, they often contain extremely hazardous ingredients.
According to the Centers of Disease and Control, counterfeit pills are especially dangerous for teenagers as they are the major target of manufacturers. The reason behind this is the susceptibility teenagers have to social media. Many videos off of social media market these drugs as harmless and approve medications when in reality they contain lethal doses of fentanyl.
Counterfeit pills becoming more common in adolescents is a result of social media being a major market place for drugs. According to PBS, sellers on social media are able to do business with others while maintaining anonymity. As a result, these exchanges are harder to regulate allowing easier access for teenagers to drugs.
Despite these dangers, social media can also be a solution. Public Health Organizations have created videos and posts to educate teenagers about these risks.
Ultimately, the overdose crisis among teens reflect a further underlying issue involving social media, influence, and digital culture. Although social media itself is not inherently dangerous, the environment it creates can normalize harmful behaviors. As technology becomes more modernized toward teenagers especially, the dangers following it also continue to rise. Therefore, education that is accessible and honest is crucial to prevent tragedies beforehand.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
