Teenage Opioid Epidemic

The United States currently faces an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction. This includes painkillers, heroin, and other drugs made from the same base chemical. In the couple of years, approximately one out of twenty Americans reported misuse or abuse of prescriptions painkillers. Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise and are the leading cause of injury deaths, surpassing car accidents and gun shots. The current problem differs from the opioid addiction outbreaks of the past in that it is also predominant in the middle and affluent classes. Ultimately, anyone can be fighting a battle with addiction and it is important for family members and loved ones to know the signs. The cause for this epidemic is that the current spike of opioid abuse can be traced to two decades of increased prescription rates for painkillers by well-meaning physicians.

United States. Governor Peter Shumlin devoted his entire state of the union address to the heroin epidemic in

Do you think consuming drugs can make you feel good? Yes, it might make you feel relaxed for a few minutes but what happens after that? What do the drugs do to your mind and body? They slowly kill the human being from the inside. We as an educated society can solve the Opioid Abuse Epidemic in Massachusetts if we develop three level preventions, stop overprescribing and raise awareness.

What is the “Opioid Epidemic”? Why is it so dangerous? These are probably questions someone would ask if not educated on the epidemic.The Opioid Epidemic is a problem within North America that is ravaging thousands of homes and many communities with little to no answers to eradicate the problem.

It might be surprising to many but over the recent decades there has been an increasing amount of opioid use among adolescents. Thus, increasing the likelihood of addiction and recently it has become a major health care epidemic. Pursuing this further, such problems often occur because well-meaning doctors, eager to make patients more comfortable, repeatedly increase a drug’s dose, inadvertently increasing risk. Furthermore, although opioids can be dangerous experts believe that patients using opioids are at a lower risk when patients are monitored closely to make sure they are still benefiting from the drugs in terms of pain relief and physical function.

Hi John, great information. Opioids have been used for managing acute and chronic pain in individuals for many decades. Though these drugs can improve a person’s quality of life, their use should be cautioned due to their addictive ability. Opioids use are rampant in the U.S. and the community. According to the CDC (2016), over the last fifteen years, opioid deaths have quadrupled. The use and misuse are responsible for destroying families across the nation. It is important to seek treatment help immediately. There are many prevention programs available today. Some family-based approaches have proven to be successful in helping adolescents overcome their addiction (National Institute of Health, 2014).

Currently, in the United States, we are experiencing an opioid epidemic. In 2014 alone, the death rate in caucasians between the ages of 25 and 34 had increased five times since 1999 (American Psychological Association, 2016). These are continuing to rise because of opioids being prescribed to

The image of a listless young heroin addict collapsed in a filthy, dark alley is obsolete. Today, the young addict could be 12 years old, play video games and enjoy the music of his generation. He could appear smart, stylish and bear none of the common traces of heroin use, such as needle marks on his arm.Because it is available in various forms that are easier to consume and more affordable, heroin today is more tempting than ever. Between 1995 and 2002, the number of teenagers in America, aged 12 to 17, who used heroin at some point in their lives increased by 300%.A young person who might think twice about putting a needle in his arm may more readily smoke or sniff the same drug. But this is falsely reassuring and may give one the idea that

Many teens at home have access to prescription drugs and abuse them. As it says in the article (Ready access to prescription drugs at home leads to many teens to abuse them). They can easily get the drugs from their own medicine cabinet at home or even at a friend’s house. Even prescription drugs a teen is prescribed to can be dangerous if they overdose. Never abuse prescription drugs as even that is very dangerous.

In my area, there is an alarming increase in heroin use. There are frequent reports on the local news channels and too often the reports are of fatal overdoses. From working in the school system, I hear stories daily of students using throughout the county. The abuse is not limited to teenagers, as the reports of deaths include all age groups, but the greatest increase of heroin abuse is being seen in our youth. Every time someone uses heroin they are risking injury, illness, and death. Because a tolerance is built up with each use of the drug, the user needs to increase the dose or use more often to get the desired effects. This also increases the likelihood of an overdose and death. Everyday heroin abuse hits closer and closer to

In today’s busy lifestyle world, there has been a number of rising cases of drug abuse. Illicit use of Opiates, especially heroin has dominated most parts of the world According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2012 about 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year of 2012. (1.)

Heroin is a rapidly growing problem affecting everyone. Children, adults, teens, families, schools, businesses, and entire states are feeling the pressure of the epidemic. It is being reported several current abusers initially used controlled prescription drugs (CPDs) (U.S. Dept. of Justice DEA pp. 6). Adults are to becoming addicted to prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Vicodin, as well as, Fentanyl to name a few.

Although heroin is illegal in the United States, the number of heroin addicts in the US is increasing. “According to the 2011 Survey on Drug Use and Health by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, it is estimated that 607,000 persons per year used heroin in the years 2009-2011” (Anderson). A lot of people who try heroin for the first time have no idea what they are dealing with. The drug is so strong that if someone takes too much then they could easily overdose or even die on just the first time trying it. The age group that has increased the most on heroin abuse is young adults from the ages of nineteen to twenty-eight (Anderson). Although that is the age group affected most, there are still younger teenagers and older adults who have used heroin.

Prescription drug abuse is a worldwide problem, and America is the leading country in prescription drug usage. “Americans account for 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone consumption, 80 percent of the world’s oxycodone consumption and 65 percent of the world’s hydromorphone consumption” (Elkins). Prescription drug abuse refers to using a drug prescribed by a medical professional without a prescription. Based on studies by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens, one of the top three most used drugs by teenagers is prescription medication. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s report shows that twenty percent of students admitted to taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their lives” (“Editorial: Prescription Drug Use among Teens Troubling”). Teens are taking a huge risk not only in terms of legal consequences but also potential of overdose or death. The growing misuse of prescription medication among teens is quickly becoming America’s largest drug epidemic in history.

Doesn’t matter what age, drugs are going to be used and abuse. From the time we are born, till the day we die, prescription drugs are prescribed for doctor approved use. Most prescription drugs are given to help control a disease, an imbalance, sickness, etc. With teenage drug abuse on the rise in most US high schools, has become a problem parents are noticing among their children. Being a parent to a teenage child who has meddled with prescription drugs has been an unbelievable eye opener. Teens know who they get these drugs from; fellow students, friends, parents cabinets. Educating parents and discussing the risks with teens about the effects prescription drugs can cause is important to helping prevent this from continuing.