Protecting Our Teenagers: Strategies to Combat the Opioid Epidemic
Protecting Our Teenagers: Strategies to Combat the Opioid Epidemic
As parents, one of the greatest fears is the safety and well-being of your children. In recent years, the opioid epidemic has emerged as a significant threat to the health and lives of teenagers across the country. Often, parents are the least educated about the realities of drug use in today’s world and are often the last to suspect their child is at risk of fatal overdose. We'll delve into the realities of the opioid epidemic among teens, explore its contributing factors, and provide actionable strategies to prevent overdose deaths. From parenting tips to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Narcan availability, and harm reduction practices, let's empower ourselves with the knowledge and resources needed to protect our teenagers from the dangers of opioid misuse.
Understanding the Opioid Epidemic in Teens:
The opioid epidemic among teenagers is a complex and multifaceted issue, driven by various factors. Easy access to prescription opioids and counterfeit pills, the ability to buy substances online, general acceptance of earlier substance use and peer pressure, undiagnosed mental health conditions, and exposure to trauma are just a few of the contributors to the severity of the crisis. Additionally, the stigma surrounding substance use often prevents teenagers from seeking help and hiding the extent of their substance use, exacerbating the problem and increasing the risk of overdose deaths.
New research has illuminated the stark reality of drug overdoses among adolescents in the United States. In 2022, an average of 22 adolescents aged 14 to 18 died each week from drug overdoses, catapulting the death rate for this age group to 5.2 per 100,000. These staggering figures underscore the urgent need for intervention and prevention efforts to combat the opioid epidemic's devastating impact on our youth. Almost every teen I have worked with knows someone in their age group and social circle who has died of an overdose.
A significant driver behind this alarming trend is the proliferation of fentanyl in counterfeit pills. Fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, has infiltrated the illicit drug market, often masquerading as other substances like prescription opioids or benzodiazepines. Teenagers are at heightened risk of accidental overdose and death because of the easy access to these substances.
Parents, educators, healthcare providers, and policymakers must come together to address this crisis comprehensively, implementing strategies that prioritize prevention, education, and access to lifesaving interventions like Narcan and fentanyl testing strips.
This sobering data serves as a call for action. It underscores the imperative of equipping teenagers and their caregivers with the knowledge, resources, and support needed to navigate the dangers of substance use and overdose.
Parenting Tips:
Foster Open Communication: Create a safe and nonjudgmental environment where your teenager feels comfortable discussing their experiences, concerns, and struggles. Listen actively, validate their feelings, and offer support without judgment.
Educate Yourself and Your Teenager: Take the time to educate yourself and your teenager about the dangers of opioid misuse, including the risk of overdose and long-term consequences. Empower your teenager with accurate information and equip them with the skills to make informed decisions.
Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations: Establish clear boundaries and expectations regarding substance use, and communicate them openly with your teenager. Encourage healthy behaviors and provide positive reinforcement for responsible choices.
Provide access to supports that are not linked to school or directly to you. Having an outlet in a trained therapist who is a trusted and educated confidant can be a lifesaver. Teens usually don’t talk to their parents or school counselor about drugs, because it’s linked to consequences and punishment. If they only talk to their friends, they only get perspective from other teens who are struggling with the same challenges.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT):
MAT is a highly effective treatment approach for opioid use disorder, combining medications such as buprenorphine, vivitrol, or naltrexone with counseling and behavioral therapies. MAT can significantly reduce the risk of overdose and improve outcomes for teenagers struggling with addiction. As parents, advocate for access to MAT services in your community and support your teenager throughout their treatment journey. These services are devastatingly difficult to find for teenagers and often misunderstood. MAT is one of the most well evidenced ways to prevent overdose death, but is often seen as “too extreme” for teens despite the staggering overdose death rates. That needs to change.
Narcan and Testing Strip Availability:
Narcan, also known as naloxone, is a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdose and prevent fatalities. Make sure to have Narcan readily available in your home and learn how to administer it in case of an emergency. Most overdose deaths have a bystander present who, if properly educated and with resources available, could have saved a life.
Fentanyl testing strips are also widely available and should be a staple if your child is using ANY substances- this includes cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, and all opioids.
REMEMBER- having health insurance or a primary care doctor doesn't encourage or enable health problems. Having lifesaving access to overdose prevention and testing strips, or even having open conversation about substance use, DOES NOT ENABLE OR ENCOURAGE SUBSTANCE USE. The only effect is reducing the risk of your child or their friends dying of an accidental overdose.
Both Narcan and Fentanyl testing strips are easily accessible- you can buy them on Amazon TODAY.
Harm Reduction Practices:
Implementing harm reduction practices can help minimize the risks associated with drug use among teenagers. Adopting an attitude of “no drug use forever or else” is not the way to protect your kids if they are using substances. Educate yourselves and educate them, provide real conversation, get them the help of a professional trained in teenage substance use, and provide actual resources instead of using scare tactics.
Some harm reduction strategies include:
Never using drugs alone
Avoiding mixing substances
Carrying Narcan and knowing how to use it
Seeking medical attention immediately in case of an overdose
Carrying fentanyl test strips if using any substances
Understanding the Unpredictability of Teen Overdoses: Why Early Conversations Matter
Recent studies have revealed a startling reality: only 1 in 10 teens who tragically died from a drug overdose had a history of treatment for a substance use problem. Even more concerning, just 1 in 7 had ever experienced a prior nonfatal overdose. These statistics shed light on a troubling pattern: adolescents who fatally overdose often do not exhibit the warning signs typically associated with substance misuse beforehand, such as prior treatment or nonfatal overdose experiences.
This unpredictability underscores the critical importance of proactive conversations between parents and their children about substance use, beginning as early as the age of 12. Waiting until warning signs manifest may be too late to prevent a tragedy. By initiating open and honest discussions about drugs and alcohol early on, parents can equip their children with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions to keep themselves safe.
Starting these conversations may feel daunting, but they are essential for fostering a supportive and understanding environment in which teenagers feel comfortable discussing their thoughts, concerns, and experiences. By establishing a foundation of trust and open communication, parents can create a safe space for their children to seek guidance and support if they ever find themselves in situations involving substance use.
It's also crucial for parents to educate themselves about the risks and realities of substance use among teenagers, including the prevalence of counterfeit pills laced with potent opioids like fentanyl. Armed with accurate information, parents can better guide and protect their children from the dangers of opioid misuse and overdose. Misinformation, rumors, and blanket scare tactics don't work with teenagers- they all have access to the internet and often know far more than parents about the drug scene in high schools. If you don’t know the realities of the accessibility of substances that can be potentially fatal, you need to spend time doing research so you can talk to your kids in an informed way.
The reality is- most of us who have children now have no idea how dangerous and accessible drugs are today. It’s a different world and teenagers know much more about drugs at a much earlier age and have easy access to many substances that didn’t exist or that we hadn’t ever even heard of at their age. Assuming your child is immune to this epidemic is a mistake that no parent wants to make.
Resources:
"Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America" by Beth Macy: This investigative book provides a comprehensive look at the origins and spread of the opioid epidemic in America.
"American Overdose: The Opioid Tragedy in Three Acts" by Chris McGreal: Through in-depth reporting and personal narratives, this book explores the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic on individuals and communities.
"Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic" by Sam Quinones: Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, this book offers a gripping narrative that sheds light on the interconnected factors fueling the opioid epidemic.