Opioid use disorders touch the lives of many families, and numerous factors influence the decision to use substances. Your child’s drug use does not mean that you are unsuccessful at parenting. This fact sheet considers actions a parent can take to support a child suspected of using opioids. A number of local and national resources are also listed for further guidance and support services

Elsmore, Elizabeth

Glissmeyer, Gabriel

Keady, Timothy

Murza, Gabriela

Prevedel, Suzanne

Sulzer, Sandra H.

Wray, Paige

English

DigitalCommons@USU

If You Suspect Your Child Is Using OpioidsGabriela Murza, Tim Keady, Paige Wray, Elizabeth Elsmore, Gabriel Glissmeyer, Katie Zaman, Suzanne Prevedel, and Sandra SulzerOpioid use disorders touch the lives of many families, and numerous factors influence the decision to use substances. Your child’s drug use does not mean that you are unsuccessful at parenting. As a parent, consider the following actions you can take to support your child and family if you suspect your child is using opioids. A number of resources, both local and national, are listed at the end of this fact sheet for further guidance and support services.#1 - Get help.You are not alone, and there are people who can provide assistance. It’s important to reach out to those you trust (e.g., a religious leader, therapist, healthcare provider), as they will be able to connect you with services. For example, a licensed mental health professional can assess your child to help identify and treat some of the factors driving the substance use. Youth with mood and/or anxiety disorders are at higher risk for substance use (Conway et al., 2016) and opioidoverdose (Hadland et al., 2021), so making sure your child has mental health care from trainedprofessionals is an essential piece to the treatment plan.#2 - Prepare for conversations with your child and keep communication open.Every parent-child relationship is different and will     affect how you choose to start a conversation.              Consider using the suggested resources,           which provide advice on setting   boundaries, using positivereinforcement to encouragebehavior change, and allowingyour child to experienceconsequences.#3 - Get trained on how to use naloxone (Narcan®).Overdose due to opioids remains the leading cause of death in Utah (Utah Department of Health, n.d.). Naloxone (Narcan®) is a medication used to temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.It is safe, effective, and saves lives. According to the Utah Department of Health (n.d.), almostanyone can learn the signs of opioid overdose and how to use a naloxone (Narcan®) rescue kit.Access naloxone kits at public libraries, police departments, and health departments. Trainings onadministering naloxone are available in your community and many online videos(see links on page 3).Page 2Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative#4 - Talk to your child and a doctor  about treatment.Not all health information about your child can be shared because the Health InsurancePortability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) confidentiality rules may apply. Team upwith your child and a healthcare provider (such as your primary care doctor) to choose atreatment and recovery path. Treatment can include medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and individual and family therapy. Buprenorphine (sometimes called by the brand name “Suboxone®”) is an effective medication used to treat opioid use disorders and isapproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for youth aged 16 and older. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends youth with opioid use disorders have access to MOUDlike buprenorphine. According to the Committee on Substance Use and Prevention (2016), research shows using this medication for long-term treatment (more than eight weeks) helps retain young patients in treatment and reduces risky opioid use.Page 3Tribal and Rural Opioid InitiativeStarting a Conversation With DoctorsUse Only as Directed: https://useonlyasdirected.org/  Finding Doctors and Other Providers Who Prescribe BuprenorphineSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) buprenorphine practitioner locator: https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/practitioner-program-data/treatment-practitioner-locator Training on NaloxoneUtah Naloxone: http://www.utahnaloxone.org  Utah.gov: https://naloxone.utah.gov/public Utah State University naloxone training:https://healthequity.usu.edu/troi-resource-centerEducating YourselfUtah Coalition for Opioid Overdose Prevention: https://ucoop.utah.gov/ Stop the Opidemic: https://www.opidemic.org/  Utah.gov: https://naloxone.utah.gov/resources Accessing Support ServicesUtah Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – free and confidentialSAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – free and confidential, 24/7, 365 days-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.Partnership to End Addiction: https://drugfree.org/about-us/  Parents Empowered: https://parentsempowered.org/ Talk. They Hear You: https://www.samhsa.gov/talk-they-hear-youStop the Opidemic: https://www.opidemic.org/ResourcesHow to UseNaloxone(American Medical Association)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xTKsHFBXlIPhoto Credit: Stop the Opidemic (opidemic.org), Utah Department of Health. Used with permission.ReferencesCommittee on Substance Use and Prevention (2016). Medication-assisted treatment of adolescents with opioid use disorders. Pediatrics. 138(3), e20161893. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1893 Conway, K. P., Swendsen, J., Husky, M. M., He, J. P., & Merikangas, K. P. (2016). Association of lifetime mental disorders and subsequent alcohol and illicit drug use: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey – Adolescent Supplement. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(4), 280–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.01.006 Hadland, S. E., Bagley, S. M., Gai, M. J., Earlywine, J. J., Schoenberger, S. F., Morgan, J. R., & Barocas, J. A. (2021). Opioid use disorder and overdose among youth following an initial opioid prescription. Addiction, 116(10), 2790–2800. https://doi. org/10.1111/add.15487Public Health Indicator Based Information System. (2021). Health indicator report—drug overdose and poisoning incidents. Utah Department of Health. https://ibis.health.utah.gov/ibisph-view/indicator/view/PoiDth.SA.html This project is made possible by SAMHSA Grant Award #1H79TI081890-01.In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, includingharassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status asa protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law. The following individuals have beendesignated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies: Executive Director of the Office of Equity, Alison Adams-Perlac, alison.adams-perlac@usu.edu, Title IX Coordinator, Hilary Renshaw, hilary.renshaw@usu.edu, Old Main Rm. 161, 435-797-1266. For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit equity.usu.edu,or contact: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, ocr@ed.gov or U.S. Department of Education, Denver Regional Office, 303-844-5695 ocr.denver@ed.gov. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kenneth L. White, Vice President for Extension and Agriculture, Utah State University. September 2021.

If You Suspect Your Child Is Using Opioids

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If You Suspect Your Child Is Using Opioids

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