Drug overdose deaths among teenagers surged during the pandemic driven by illicit fentanyl- Monthly drug overdose deaths nearly tripled among adolescents from 2019 through the end of 2021, according to the CDC.Drug overdose deaths among adolescents surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, driven overwhelmingly by illicit fentanyl, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Monthly drug overdose deaths nearly tripled among adolescents ages 10 to 19 during the first two years of the pandemic.More than 2,200 adolescents overdosed during the 2½ year period, 96% of whom were teenagers ages 15 to 19.Some 24% had mental health treatment before, 19% were diagnosed with depression, and 15% had a prior history of suicidal or self-harm behavior."