If you were asked what causes more fatalities in the U.S. each year than car crashes or gun violence, what would your response be? Heart disease? Cancer? Surprisingly, the answer is drug overdoses.
Our country is grappling with a severe opioid crisis, largely fueled by prescription painkillers that have found their way into many home medicine cabinets. Opioids encompass both illegal substances like heroin and legally prescribed pain medications such as oxycodone, codeine, and morphine. Alarmingly, the U.S. accounts for about 80% of the global opioid supply. In 1991, there were 76 million prescriptions for opioids, but by 2013, that number skyrocketed to 207 million. It’s no wonder that overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have surged fourfold since 1999, with over 1,000 individuals treated daily for opioid misuse in emergency rooms.
On August 10, former President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national emergency, heeding the advice of a White House panel that described the crisis as reaching “unprecedented, catastrophic proportions.” Experts like Robert Jensen, who manages death statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state, “We’ve never encountered anything like this in modern times.” Dr. Lisa Moreno, the surgeon general, has labeled it a public health crisis, emphasizing that substance use disorders are among the most serious health issues we face today.
What makes opioid abuse particularly insidious is that it doesn’t resemble traditional “street” drug use. These substances are legal, highly regulated, and produced by pharmaceutical companies. However, one such drug—fentanyl—is a staggering 100 times stronger than morphine. Disturbingly, many Americans are now opting for prescription painkillers over a glass of wine to alleviate anxiety and stress, which was never the intended purpose of these medications, leading to dire consequences.
So, how is it that our teens are becoming ensnared in this web of addiction? Shockingly, it’s often not through illicit means. Many teenagers are introduced to opioids through medical prescriptions following minor procedures like wisdom teeth extraction or sports injuries. Research indicates a strong correlation between initial medical use and subsequent non-medical use, paving the way for addiction.
Doctors frequently prescribe teenagers 60-90 narcotic pain pills for pain that could be managed with far less addictive alternatives. Without proper guidance on their use, teens may inadvertently experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medication, which can lead them back to the pills. When those run out, some may turn to heroin as a substitute, contributing to an alarming rise in overdose rates. According to recent reports, deaths from synthetic opioids and heroin among teens aged 15 to 19 have increased dramatically—from 0.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2002 to 0.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2015—a sevenfold rise.
This situation is serious and warrants our attention. As parents, we must be vigilant about the narcotic pain relievers in our homes. We should question any physician who readily prescribes a large number of pills to adolescents, ensuring we involve our teens in discussions about pain management and the potential hazards of these medications. The opioid epidemic won’t resolve itself overnight, so we must remain aware and proactive.
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In summary, our nation is facing a staggering opioid crisis, with teenagers increasingly becoming unwitting victims through medical prescriptions. It is crucial for parents and guardians to stay informed and actively engage in discussions about the risks associated with opioid use.