A Tennessee teenage girl is facing murder charges following the suspected drug overdoses of two of her classmates.
Fayette County Public Schools confirmed that two girls, aged 16 and 17, died on May 16 after an incident near Fayette-Ware High School. A 17-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition. The girls were discovered in the school parking lot just hours before a graduation ceremony. The surviving 17-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance, though her identity remains undisclosed.
While the authorities have not officially revealed the identities of the deceased girls or disclosed the causes of their deaths, Mark Thorne, the father of one of the victims, identified his daughter.
District Attorney Mark Davidson acknowledged that it is uncommon for a minor to face murder charges concerning a drug overdose. However, this is not the first time teenagers have been charged as adults in cases of drug-induced homicides, a trend that drug policy experts argue exacerbates the crisis instead of addressing it effectively.
A study revealed that teen overdose rates doubled between 2019 and 2020 because of the prevalence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply. Drug-induced homicide laws are currently in place in at least 25 states, although charges can be pursued even without specific laws. In certain cases, individuals facing charges attempted to assist the person experiencing an overdose.
Advocates argue that targeting young people involved in drug use or sales adds to their trauma and discourages others from seeking help, becoming more secretive, and disconnecting from services that can reduce risks. While most states have implemented Good Samaritan laws to shield people who seek assistance during an overdose from prosecution, the extent and application of these laws vary.