As Media Focuses on COVID, Fentanyl Becomes Leading Cause of Death for US Adults Ages 18-45

Here's something the media is not covering. Analysis from the U.S. government found that fentanyl overdoses are the leading cause of death for adults ages 18-45.

Between 2020 and 2021, nearly 79,000 members of that age group died from a fentanyl overdose. The total jumped from 37,208 in 2020 to 41,587 in 2021.

Fentanyl overdoses are rising drastically by the year. As per Families Against Fentanyl:








Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that's deadly even in small amounts. It is reportedly 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Almost 80,000 people who are not even 46 years old have died from one cause in the past two years. That's a crisis. So why aren't more outlets saying this?

Because, unlike COVID, covering fentanyl isn't advantageous. There's no political gain in warning Americans that fentanyl is a more significant threat to young Americans than the omicron -- say it in a spooky voice -- variant. And that's awful and discouraging. 

The CDC even buried the ominous fentanyl death rate in a PDF to focus more on COVID. Take a look:












Comparatively, 53,000 people in the age group have died from COVID between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 15, 2021. Fentanyl overdoses are also more deadly than suicide and car accidents for young adults.

Fentanyl overdoses should not be a political topic. It should simply be a topic -- a warning of sorts, which it's not currently. Fentanyl is rapidly killing young Americans yet hardly makes the news

So if you know of anyone at risk of using fentanyl, reach out to help them immediately.





Written by
Bobby Burack is a writer for OutKick where he reports and analyzes the latest topics in media, culture, sports, and politics.. Burack has become a prominent voice in media and has been featured on several shows across OutKick and industry related podcasts and radio stations.