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What to Do When your Adolescent /Young Adult is Using Opioids If you recently discovered that your adolescent or young adult is using opioids, you have every right to react! It's imperative to focus on the family views surrounding drug use, as this will play a role in the motivation for change for your child. Responding to this discovery of opioid use rather than immediately reacting is ideal. An emotional reaction that includes a rational response with clear communication, information gathering, expressing concern, and emphasizing love, is the best. When you are in-the-know of your child's substance abuse it's hard to bring the rational brain on board though. Below are some quick facts on opioids, signs of abuse, and what you can do as a parent.
by Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC, founder of Lilley Consulting
Find Programs to Help with Teen Addiction and Recovery across the United States
What are Opioids?
To put it simply, prescription medication (aka pain killers) and heroin. Some common addictive prescription pain killers are Vicodin, Hydrocodone, and Oxycontin. Heroin is the recreational version of opioids. It's also what a lot of young people move on to when they can no longer access pain killers. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse 4 out of 5 Heroin users started out abusing prescription medication. These are substances that provide severe pain relief. Someone with a lot of trauma can find opioid use to be intoxicating, for a lack of better words.
Until recently, doctors used to be able to prescribe opioids for chronic pain. Now the FDA says to only prescribe if it's the "last resort." If someone has a surgery, they are now prescribed non-opioid pain killers (i.e. Tylenol, ibuprofen), however if a patient is still in a pain, then they can prescribe opioids. There is a cap on the number of refills though. Sadly it takes next to nothing to become addicted to opioids.
Signs of Opioid Abuse:
You may be reading this because you already found out that your young person is abusing opioids. If you aren't certain but have a hunch, this section can help you come to a full conclusion if there truly is substance abuse.
Self-reported red flags will look like tolerance and withdrawal. In a very short amount of time, tolerance can build and a young person will require more pills to produce the same numbing results. Tolerance can build quickly. This can spiral to running out of prescriptions early, which leads into withdrawal. If someone was taking opioids to squash pain, during the withdrawal they would be physically struggling. What you will find more of is the psychological pain that is linked to withdrawal from opioids. These occur within as early as a few hours of the last dose. Common responses are anxiety and irritability, especially if the usage is a secret.
Other side effects might include sleepy or insomniac, dizzy, confused, and constipated. If you notice your young person driving in this state, I would blow a whistle! They could seriously injury themselves or someone else on the road. Constipation can be a cause of the irritability. And another obvious sign of abuse would be that money is missing. Opioids are not free. If the tolerance is high, it's definitely not cheap either!
As a Parent, What Must You Do?
- Identify if there are opioids in the house and dispose of them properly. This includes other family members who have prescriptions at their homes.
- Visit your local Pharmacist to request NARCAN. You will want to know how to use this, in the event of an overdose.
- Figure out where the money for use is coming from. If your son or daughter has access to cash or credit cards, consider shutting that access down.
- Now that you know that your young person is using opioids, attempt to speak with them and express your concern. Offer support in getting them help if they feel they are stuck and want out. Chances are, their words and actions will not align.
- Consult with your therapist about your concern for your child's drug abuse.
- Seek out a Therapeutic Consultant so they can help you line up appropriate treatment programs.
- Consider hiring an Interventionist to assist in the process of getting your young person into treatment.
- Find resources such a Beyond Addiction to read and better understand how you can help support your young person!
True recovery does not happen overnight. Your child has to be motivated to not use. Opioids require a medical detox, and the thought of that can be frightening. Family interventions can help with the motivation, yet it's not guaranteed. A family can want their young person to be sober and seek out treatment programs on their behalf, and it is wise to hire a Therapeutic Consultant for this entire process. Treatment programs and the recovery continuum of care for your young person is an investment. Treatment is not cheap! A Therapeutic Consultant can help a family ensure they are not skipping steps in the process, that the young person lands in the hands of ethical treatment programs, while the entire family system gets the therapeutic guidance and support they need as well. It's not a simple fix. Opioids can be devastating. If you know your young person is using, think of it as abuse. They may not look like the junkie stereotype, yet they are addicted just the same. Get help now!
Joanna Lilley, MA, NCC is a Therapeutic Consultant, Behavioral Healthcare Navigator, and Young Adult Advocate, specializing in working with struggling young adults and their families nationally and internationally. See her site at: www.lilley-consulting.com, contact her by phone at: (970) 218-9958, or email at: joanna@lilley-consulting.com.