Hi Friend,,
When opioid pain medications like Vicodin, Percocet and Oxycontin, are taken as prescribed by a doctor and for a short period of time, they are generally safe for some, but not all people. When these medications are misused, the risk of overdose increases significantly because they depress the body’s respiratory system to dangerous levels.
In the next episode of our year-long YouTube video series, Monica, who is a peer parent coach at the Partnership, talks about how her son got started with opioids and how he and his family found a path toward recovery.
“Bobby, at the age of 15 innocently enough, got addicted to opiates,” says Monica. “It started when he had his wisdom teeth extracted. I never knew that prescription pills would be where it would start.”
The risk of addiction to opioids can be greater when the patient is a teen or young adult because their brains are still developing. Opioids can stimulate the brain’s reward center, creating a sense of euphoria and well-being, which can contribute to misuse and addiction. But with patience, love and the right interventions, parents and family members can help them understand the dangers associated with prescription drug misuse, prevent them from developing a problem, or help guide them to make healthier choices.
“Sometimes I would get so frustrated with him,” Monica says. “But I started going to support groups and I realized that my approach wasn't working. I couldn’t shout it out of him. I needed to start really listening to my son, letting him lead the way instead of always forcing a path on him.”
You can watch this episode and previous episodes here on drugfree.org. This new video series will feature a variety of topics, voices and stories all year long.
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