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April 3, 2018

Should Your Teen Take that Opioid Prescription?

Whether due to a sport injury, getting wisdom teeth pulled, or just a freak accident, there are many reasons why doctors may prescribe opioid painkillers to teens. But with the nationwide opioid addiction epidemic constantly on the news, you probably have some hesitation about letting your teen take the prescription.

On one hand, you do not want your child to suffer intense pain; but then again you also do not want that one prescription to lead to addiction or act as a gateway to other drugs.

And that fear isn't completely unwarranted. According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 900,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 misused pain relievers within the past year. Here's another scary fact: many heroin users start off by abusing prescription medication.

So what should you do? Obviously you know your teen best, but below are some things to consider if you are thinking about letting them use prescription pain medication.

Keep in mind that there is a responsible way to use opioid prescriptions. Continue reading here: DEA Get Smart About Drugs