According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 15 million people age 12 or older used prescription drugs non-medically in the previous year, and 12.7 percent of new illegal drug users began with prescription pain relievers. If your child is prescribed medication, particularly pain pills, there are things you as a parent should do to ensure it is used properly and safely.
Talk to the doctor or dentist who is prescribing the medication. Ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable and confident. You might feel like youāre being a bother, or the doctor might be giving off signs that heād like to hurry off, but this is your childās health, and you have the right to this information. Here are some of the questions to ask:
Are there any non-narcotic options available? This is especially important if there is a history of addiction, not just in the child but in yourself or the other parent, as there can be a genetic factor to addiction. Depending on the severity of the injury (or pain from surgery, or whatever necessitated the prescription), over the counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen may be sufficient.
Can the prescription be for a smaller quantity of pills? Doctors sometimes overprescribe pain medications. A dental surgery might only require two or three days of pain relief, but the dentist will give you a weekās worth of pills.
How should the painkiller be taken? How many hours do you have to wait between doses, and if, for example, the instructions say every six hours, does that mean you need to wake your child up in the middle of the night for a dose? Or do they even need a dose if they arenāt in pain at that moment?
What happens if he or she misses a dose while they were sleeping or if they forgot to take a pill? Should they take one as soon as they remember or wait for the next six-hour mark?
Are there any drugs that can interact with the painkillers? If your teen is on any kind of medication, such as for allergies, acne, ADHD, anxiety or depression, etc., could there be an adverse reaction?
Should the painkillers be slowly reduced and then stopped, rather than cutting them off all at once? Opioid pain medications can become addictive in as little as five days, so it might be necessary to wean the patient off of them to avoid withdrawal.
What activities should be avoided when taking painkillers? Some pain medications can interfere with cognitive abilities and motor function, so find out if itās safe to play sports or drive while taking them.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
