Opioids
Opioids are a group of drugs that includes heroin (an illegal substance) and prescription pain relievers such as hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin), and morphine, which are legal when prescribed by a licensed health care provider. Opioid misuse occurs when a person uses heroin or misuses prescription pain relievers.
Although opioid use is decreasing among high school students, in 2016 nearly four percent of the approximately 12 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported misusing opioids over the past year. This usage was even higher at seven percent among older adolescents and young adults, aged 18 to 25. The majority of this misuse was due to prescription drugs, not heroin.1
Although the overall rate of death from opioid misuse is low, the rate of overdose deaths among adolescents is increasing. For instance, in 2015 there were more than 4,200 youth aged 15 to 24 who died from a drug related overdose and more than half of these deaths were due to opioid misuse.
Family Involvement in Adolescent Opioid Addiction Recovery
Family involvement in adolescent opioid addiction treatment is crucial to a successful recovery. Family members can play an important role in motivating an adolescent to enter and remain in a treatment program.
Parents or guardians of an adolescent who has been misusing opioids need to know the warning signs of opioid misuse, how best to approach the adolescent, and how to decide which treatment program is the best for the adolescent.
Signs of opioid misuse in adolescents can include:
- drowsiness,
- constipation,
- nausea,
- dizziness,
- vomiting,
- dry mouth,
- headaches,
- sweating,
- mood changes,
- loss of appetite, and
- weakness.2
If you think an adolescent may be misusing opioids, the following tips from the Drug Enforcement Agency may help you decide to how to approach him or her about this:
- Choose the right time to talk. Be sure the adolescent has not been using opioids before talking.
- Voice your suspicion. Begin by expressing your concerns without making accusations.
- Be specific. Explain what you observed to make you concerned.
- Be prepared for strong reactions. Stay calm.
- Reinforce what you think about drug use. Tell him or her how much you care for him or her.
- Get help from the experts. Contact the school counselor, school nurse, or family doctor about your concerns.
Trying to find the right treatment program for an adolescent who is misusing a substance, such as opioids, can be confusing and overwhelming for a parent or guardian.
Resources
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Help, Resources and Information: National Opioids Crisis
This website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides information on the current opioid crisis, and information on opioid misuse prevention, where and how to get treatment, and recovery.
National Institutes of Health
Pain Information for Health Professionals
This website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health provides health professionals information on different types of pain and pain management.
Mind Over Matter: The Brain's Response to Prescription Drug Abuse
This webpage from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teachers provides one of the booklets from the Mind Over Matter series for middle schoolers. Mind Matters is a series that explores the ways that different drugs affect your brain, body, and life. In this issue, fascinating facts about prescription drugs are explored.
NIDA: Opioids
This webpage from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse summarizes how opioids affect the brain's physiology, discusses medical treatment options for opioid addiction, and provides links to other NIDA resources on consequences of opioid use.
Office of Adolescent Health
Adolescent Substance Use, Addiction, and Treatment: A TAG Talk
This video from youth.gov and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Adolescent Health discusses the importance of addressing substance use and addiction in adolescents and young adults and the most effective approaches to treating addiction, including opioid addiction.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
FindTreatment.gov
This directory from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a confidential and anonymous source of information for people seeking treatment facilities substance abuse/addiction.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
This directory from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a confidential and anonymous source of information for people seeking treatment facilities substance abuse/addiction.