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Teen Opioid Use: What to Know, How to Stay Safe

According to the Center for Disease Control, over 2.14 million people ages 12 and older in the United States have an Opioid use disorder, including 153,000 12-17 year olds. 

The United States has an Opioid problem that needs to be amended, but how are we to do this? Obviously it’s not as easy as just saying stop abusing opioids, especially in teenage populations who’s brains are less developed than other groups and may not be able to think as rationally as their adult counterparts. Things like prolonged drug abuse, negative peer influence, and history of family drug abuse can all prevent teenagers from avoiding Opioids in their lives.  

Consequences of teen Opioid use include (but are not limited to):

Health risks in teens who use Opioids: Opioid abuse can lead to vomiting, mood changes, decrease in cognitive function, coma, and even death. This risk is increased when opioids are taken with other substances such as alcohol, antihistamines, or CNS depressants (Hilmas 1). 

Increased rates of teen suicide in teens who use Opioids:  The rate of youth suicide has increased over the past 15 years in the United States, as has the rate of death, due to Opioid overdose (Brent 1). 

Decline in academic performance in teens who use Opioids: Cognitive and behavioral problems experienced by drug using youth may interfere with their academic performance (NIDA 2). 

However, there are things that you can do to avoid Opioid use in your everyday life: 

You can avoid spending time with people who regularly use Opioids. By surrounding yourself with people that use drugs, you are making yourself more vulnerable to becoming addicted to Opioids.  

You can practice refusal strategies with trusted friends or adults. Practicing refusal strategies to be prepared for when you are offered drugs by peers is a very easy way to lower the likelihood that you will partake in when they are offered to you. 

Ask for help from a trusted adult. If you are worried that you or someone you know is at risk of abusing Opioids, it is always smart to ask for help from a trusted adult. They will most likely be able to give you helpful advice on the issue, and also guide you to health services that may better address your issues.

When moving away from Opioid use, some teens find it hard to occupy their free time with other activities. With that in mind, there are many healthy alternatives to using Opioids that may be of interest.  

Some of these activities include: 

Joining a school sport: When you are part of a school sport, you are surrounded by peers that are more health conscious than others may be. After all, their bodies are a machine that needs to run well in order to perform well in their respective sport. Being surrounded by health-minded people can have a very positive impact on your own ideas of health, lowering your risk of using Opioids. 

Learning a musical instrument: Learning a musical instrument can be a fun and productive way to spend your free time, especially if you do it with others by joining a band. Spending your time creating and playing music with a strong network of friends will not only occup your free time, but can also raise your self esteem and lower the likelihood that you will use Opioids. 

Becoming an advocate: What better way to mitigate the damages of Opioid use in your community than becoming an advocate for Teen Opioid Use Awareness. By becoming more educated on the issue of teen Opioid usage, you are not only lowering the likelihood that you will use Opioids (because you know all the risks associated with usage), but you can also lower the likelihood that your peers will use Opioids.

Hopefully with this information, you will be better equipped to navigate teen drug use and avoid Opiates, for a more healthful and fulfilling life.

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Sources used in this column:

APEX Course Unit 3 Information

Consequences of Youth Substance Abuse, https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/pubs/drugid/ration-03.html. 

David A. Brent, MD. “Association between Parental Medical Claims for Opioids and Risk of Suicide Attempt by Their Children.” JAMA Psychiatry, JAMA Network, 1 Sept. 2019, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2733148. 

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Letter to Teens.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 3 Aug. 2021, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/opioid-facts-teens/letter-to-teens. 

“Prescription Drug Abuse (for Teens) - Nemours Kidshealth.” Edited by Elora Hilmas, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Oct. 2018, https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/prescription-drug-abuse.html#:~:text=Opioid%20abuse%20can%20lead%20to,%2C%20antihistamines%2C%20and%20CNS%20depressants.