According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the use of prescription opioids is the

second most common type of illicit drug use (after marijuana), with 12.4 million Americans using
prescription pain relievers for nonmedical purposes. While opioid addictions affect a variety of people,
the use of opioids is especially prevalent among adolescents. In the2005 National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, which examined data for 18,678 adolescents, 8.2% had misused a medication. Experts say
that opioids appeal to this age group for a few reasons. First of all, taking opioids can lead to feelings of
euphoria and they relieve pain quickly and effectively. The risk of being caught is also lowered, opioids
dont have any smells associated with them, theres no smoke involved, and the effects arent as
obvious as things like alcohol and marijuana. There has also been an increase in pharming parties in
which adolescents get together to exchange and abuse prescription medication.
Opioids include codeine, oxycodone, hyrdocodone, methadone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, meperidine,
morphine. These medications are used to relieve moderate to severe pain that does not respond well to
other medications. Opioid attach to the opiate receptors in the brain and act like natural opioids, such as
endorphins. This feeling often leads to euphoria, which is why people often become dependent on these
drugs.
Unlike many other drugs, opioid addictions are often accidental, meaning that a physician originally
prescribed the medication to treat pain, but after taking the medication, the patient becomes
dependent on the drug. Pain is known as the fifth vital sign in the medical field. While it is extremely
helpful for a patient to be able to convey their level of pain to their physician, it can also be difficult for a
physician to decide on treatment. Doctors know how effective opioids can be in relieving pain, however,
they are also aware of the fact that opioids can lead to addiction.
It is extremely important for patients to follow the instructions that their physician has given them when
taking an opioid. Opioids are known to cause withdrawals for those who suddenly stop taking their
medication instead of preparing their bodies by lowering their dosage over time. Withdrawal symptoms
include runny nose, anxiety, muscle cramps, goosebumps, increased sweating, insomnia, diharrea,
nausea, and dilated pupils. Often times the fear of withdrawal will lead people to become dependent on
an opioid. Additionally dependence on an opioid can cause a persons body to tolerance which means
that the opioid is no longer effective. This leads people to increase their dosage, and people can go from
being physically dependent on an opioid to becoming addicted to it.
An opioid overdose can be severe and cause death. Opioids are especially fatal when combined with
alcohol and other narcotics. Some people snort or inject opioids, allowing them to enter the
bloodstream faster. Overdoses usually occur as a result of overlapping doses, people will overlap doses
when there is a lack of or insufficient feelings of euphoria.
Prescription drug abuse can be difficult to prevent due to the fact that most people do not obtain their
drugs from a prescription. Most people get their opioids from friends and family members who have
been given a prescription for the opioids. Very few people get their prescription pills from a dealer. The
chart on your handout illustrates this point.
If an addiction has formed there are two types of treatments available. Pharmacotherapy relies on two
medications that act as a substitute for illicit opioids, these medications are methadone and
buprenorphine. These medications are designed to prevent withdrawal symptoms so that the
withdrawal symptoms are not a factor when a person is trying to quit. Naltrexone can also be used to
treat an opioid addiction. Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors so that they are unable to be activated.
This stops drugs from exerting their effects.
If a person does not wish to use medication to treat their addiction, they can enter a detox program as
well. Patients are taken off their medications, their withdrawal systems are managed, and they
complete a counseling program. Having a strong support system is very important in assisting this
process.
Young adults are much more likely to start abusing prescription opioids than they are to start abusing
illegal opioids such as heroin, and initiation of prescription opioids abuse overtook that of cocaine abuse
in 1996. When used improperly, opioids can lead to respiratory depression and death. If a person with
an opioid addiction seeks treatment they can choose between treatment with medication and
treatment without medication. Opioid addiction is on the rise, however, it is entirely treatable if an
individual seeks to end their addiction.