This fact sheet explains what opioids are, lists street names, and reviews the risks of using or misusing opioids. It reviews reasons why youth may abuse opioids. Ways youth can help and support peers are included as well as resources to get educated and find treatment for substance abuse and addiction. Several poster-styled and social media-compatible posters are included as an additional file that youth can share with other youth to spread the message and encourage safety

Keady, Timothy

MacArthur, Stacey

Murza, Gabriela

Prevedel, Suzanne

English

DigitalCommons@USU

OPIOIDFACTSFORYOUTHPAGE 2OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTTim Keady, Stacey MacArthur, Gabriela Murza, and Suzanne PrevedelOpioids are powerful drugs that come as prescription medicines (oxycodone, codeine, andmorphine) or illicit drugs (heroin) (National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d.-c). Doctors often pre-scribe these drugs to people who are experiencing moderate to severe pain. In addition to con-trolling pain, opioids can make some people feel relaxed, happy, or “high” and can be addictive (Johns Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). An addiction to opioids is called an opioid use disorder (OUD). Like many drugs, opioids require an increased amount to feel the same effect. This can lead to accidental overdose deaths and other harmful outcomes. Addiction can lead to you losing your job, hurting your relationships, and missing things that matter in your life. Opioids affect not only the reward system of the brain, they also impact breathing. Taken at higher doses, opioids can make it hard to breathe, making the overdose fatal when breathing stops (National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d.-b).Opioids can restrict your ability to breathe when misused or taken at a high dose and can lead to a fatal overdose. The risk of re-spiratory depression (slowing or even stop-ping your breathing), increases if you have never taken an opioid before or if you are taking other medications/drugs that interact with the opioid.WHAT ARE OPIOIDSAND WHY ARE THEY deadly?What are the risks of opioid use?Opioids are compounds resembling opium in addictive properties or physiological effects. Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers avail-able legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydroco-done (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and others. Find more information at https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids.Opioid DefinitionPAGE 3OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTTeens can misuse opioids for a variety of reasons, such as the following:Misusing opioids can lead to losing your ability to make good decisions, friends and relation-ships, your health, and possibly your life.What can you lose when you use?Opioids can make some people feel relaxed, happy, or “high,” and can be addictive.Additional side effects can include slowed breathing, constipation, nausea, confusion, and drowsiness (see https://www.hopkins-medicine.org/opioids/what-are-opioids.html). What are the effects of using opioids?In Utah, 19,000 (6%) of those 12 to 17 years old used an illicit drug in the last month.In the last month, 104,000 of those 18 to 25 years old used drugs.Total overdose deaths: 4,777 (15 to 24 years old).Good news: Teenagers in Utah are 28.16% less likely to have used drugsin the last month than the average American teen (see https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/).What are some street namesfor opioids? Street names include happy pills, OC, oxy, oxycotton, percs, vikes, fentanyl (a synthet-ic opioid 50–100 times more potent than morphine).What are the dangersof opioid use?Regular use of these drugs can increase your tolerance and dependence, requiring higher and more frequent doses. In some cases,longer terms of opioid use can lead toaddiction or opioid use disorder (OUD) or substance use disorder (SUD).What do the stats for youthOUD and SUD show?Yes! Use opioids when your doctor prescribes them for a short period of time (3–7 days) to manage severe pain after surgery or a broken bone, and after a discussion of other options, including the benefits and risks of opioid use. In addition, this practice helps to reduce the pos-sibility of becoming addicted or dependent on opioids. If you and your doctor decide you need opioids to manage severe pain, work with your doctor to take the lowest dose possible, for the shortest time needed, exactly as prescribed.Is there ever a reason to use opioids?REASONS TEENS MISUSE OPIOIDSNegative coping strategy (self-medicating).Escape from problems rather than facing them.Pressure to fit in.Lack of confidence (self-worth).Lack of good information.Lack of information on consequences.Act of rebellion.•••••••PAGE 4OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTEducating YourselfDrug facts: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/drug-overdoses-youthOpioid drug abuse information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids Games, articles, and videos on teen drug use and the brain from the National Insti-tute on Drug Abuse: https://teens.drug-abuse.gov/teensRESOURCESFinding TreatmentSubstance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Opioid Treatment Program Directory: https://dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/directory.aspx Treatment resources: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatmentYouth and young adults resources fromSAMHSA: https://www.samhsa.gov/brss-tacs/recovery-support-tools/youth-young-adultsBeing a positive influence for your friends and peers can make a big difference in their decision to not misuse opioids and other substances. The following are some ways that you can safe-guard yourself and your peers against substance misuse:••••Make the decision not to use before you are faced with the situation.Develop a strong friendship with peers and trusted adults.Share the USU Extension Youth OpioidPrevention Posters with your peers.Give alternate options for acceptance and bonding.Speak up.Provide resources.Listen and be supportive to thosestruggling with life (stressors).•••WAYS TO HELP AND SUPPORT PEERSREFERENCESAhmad, F. B., Rossen L. M., & Sutton P. (2021). Provisional drug overdose death counts. National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved August 1, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm.Johns Hopkins Medicine (n.d.). What are opioids? Retrieved on April 27, 2021, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/opioids/what-are-opioids.html.National Institute on Drug Abuse (n.d.-a). Drug overdoses in youth. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved on May 24, 2021, from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/drug-over-doses-youth.National Institute on Drug Abuse (n.d.-b). Drug facts. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved on July 14, 2021, from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/teens/drug-facts.National Institute on Drug Abuse (n.d.-c). Prescription drugs. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 24, 2019, from https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs.This project is made possible by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Grant Award #1H79TI081890-01.In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expres-sion, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law. The following individuals have been designated 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. Published September 2021.

Opioid Facts for Youth

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Opioid Facts for Youth

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