While teens are using less heroin, they are using other opiates in increasing numbers. Especially alarming is teens' abuse of opiate painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin. While these drugs are medically beneficial when used as prescribed for the treatment of pain, too many teens use them for their euphoria-producing effects, often mixing them with other drugs and placing themselves at even greater risk of physical harm, addiction and various problems at school and home.
What Are Opiates?
Opiates are chemicals found in the opium poppy plant that are used to produce opioids, which are narcotic drugs for treating pain. The main opioids are opium, heroin, morphine, fentanyl and prescription pain medications such as Demerol, Dilaudid, OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan and Vicodin. When injected, swallowed, snorted or smoked, these drugs act on the brain's opioid receptors to produce feelings of euphoria and drowsiness, in addition to treating pain.
Prevalence of Teen Opiate Abuse
According to the Monitoring the Future survey, or MTF, an ongoing study of teen substance abuse, the use of heroin by teens is among the lowest of all illicit drugs, with only 0.7 percent of teens reporting use of the drug within the previous year. However, the abuse of opioid prescription painkillers is significantly higher: 9.7 percent of high school seniors report using Vicodin in the past year, while 4.9 percent report using OxyContin.
Why Are More Teens Abusing Painkillers?
Experts cite two causes for the high rate of painkiller abuse among teens. First, there is a misperception among teens that because the drugs are legal and prescribed for legitimate use, they are safe. Second, these drugs are often easy to get by simply opening the family medicine cabinet or purchasing them from a schoolmate, family member or friend. According to a report by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, "Teens are abusing prescription drugs because many believe the myth that these drugs provide a 'safe' high and they are easily available."
Consequences
Opioids are notoriously addictive. In addition, they present various risks to a teen's health. They can cause breathing and heart rate to slow to dangerously low levels, especially when combined with other drugs such as alcohol. In addition, a study led by Jeanne Kreek, MD, of Rockefeller University in New York City has found evidence to disprove the myth that opioid painkillers are safe. Based on research with mice, the study concludes that teens who take prescription opioids might be more likely both to progress to heroin and to subsequently become addicted to heroin.
Prevention
Due these risks, experts call for initiatives to educate the public about the problem of teen painkiller abuse. Parents are advised to keep close tabs on their prescription medications. In addition, public health officials advocate programs to counter teens' mistaken belief that prescription drugs are safe. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, "Education is needed to counter any misperceptions that abusers of prescription pain relievers have about the risks involved in abusing these drugs."
References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Prescription Drug Abuse Chart
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: NIDA InfoFacts: High School and Youth Trends
- Office of National Drug Control Policy: Prescription for Danger: A Report on the Troubling Trend of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse Among the Nation's Teens
- "Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly"; Adolescent Painkiller Use May Increase Risk of Addiction, Heroin Use; September 22, 2008
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Involving Abuse of Pain Relievers: 1998 and 2008
