NIDA’s Effort to Keep Teens from Developing Opioid Problems

Having a massive lineup of adults addicted to opioids is already a major problem, so imagine how tragic this situation can become when teens and young adults are thrown into this mix. Remember: the Opioid Crisis isn’t just affecting the older population, although these men and women do suffer from age-related pain; but is also impacting young people who are forced to take painkillers to heal. For at-risk juveniles (those who have a genetic predisposition for addiction), this situation can become notoriously tricky. Here is how the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently tackled in this issue in 2018.  

Targeting the Source of the Pain

During a press conference in 2018, Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIDA, stressed the importance of preventing opioid use disorder (OUD) and abuse at an early stage of life. Furthermore, she explains how current strategies for pain management and prevention are not efficient enough to put opioid problems to a complete halt, simply because powerful prescription drugs like fentanyl are still destroying lives.

Putting the Children First

As part of the first session in the meeting, NIDA discussed the unfortunate commonality of opioid problems among juvenile and young adult populations, and the results of current research have been nothing short of distressing. According to reports, students who have poor adjustment rates are using more drugs than children who don’t attend public school. On the flip side, 18 to 25-year-old men and women who do not attend college have also exhibited high rates of opioid use (particularly stronger among those who didn’t earn high school diplomas), while 26 to 34-year-olds are using opioids on a higher scale than they did a decade earlier.

Despite the fact that 60 prevention programs exist in our system, more teens and young adults are using drugs due to gateway substances.

Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid use disorder is easily one of the most terrifying substance use disorders on the planet, mostly because opioid addiction partially stems from a large number of drugs that are legally regulated by the federal government. For decades, our country has suffered beneath the weight of dangerous synthetics and legal painkillers, and millions of Americans have suffered from addiction throughout the 20 years the crisis has been brewing. However, you can make the right decision by taking a stand against your addiction and regaining your health and happiness.

If you are suffering from a severe case of drug addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of opioid withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.

If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.