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In a world full of teenagers battling depression, anxiety, pressure and a lot more, another enemy quietly lurks.
Opioids are a class of drugs that are used to relieve pain and are often prescribed by doctors to patients to deal with chronic pain or post surgery pain. The purpose of opioids is to relieve pain, but they can also cause serious highs, extremely strong addictions and even death.
For teens the damage caused by addiction can alter their brain chemistry for life, according to the national library of medicine. The adolescent brain is still developing and their prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for decision making, self control and impulsive management – doesn’t finish developing until the age of 25. When opioids enter the teen brain, they can interfere in the development process, and memory, focus and emotional regulation can become impaired.
Addiction is a serious problem because addiction can rewire the teen brain’s reward system making them crave opioids more often just so they could feel ”normal.” If teens use opioids for a long time, their bodies can be dependent on it, making them crave it more and more.
In some cases, teens can feel as if they need the opioids to survive.
Research from NeuroLaunch shows that early opioid use can lead to lifelong addition, mental health conditions and permanent changes in one’s brain structure.
Addiction doesn’t just physically destroy lives; it also takes a heavy toll on mental health and social relationships. Addiction can lead to someone feeling isolated, depressed and hopeless. The constant craving and withdrawal symptoms can overwhelm a teen’s ability to cope with everyday stress, making it hard to focus or find joy in activities they once loved.
Socially, addiction often causes teens to withdraw from family and friends, damaging important relationships. Addiction isolates teens from the support systems they need to recover, making it harder to break free. Addiction makes teens feel lost, unstable and isolated.
According to University of California Los Angeles Medical School, 22 teens between the ages of 14 and 18 die per week from opioid overdose. 22 precious lives a week taken away by opioids. 22 teens with futures stolen away by opioids.
We can start by ending the stigma that addiction is failure and start treating it for what it is – a medical condition. People who struggle with addiction feel shame and judgment because of hateful remarks, diverted gazes and other hurtful actions.. Ending the stigma will help people who face addiction open up and reach out for the help they need.
Opioid abuse is more than a health issue; it’s a thief of potential and lives. It hijacks teen brains and damages relationships and destroys the future of many teens.
By ending the stigma of addiction and approaching addiction as a medical condition rather than failure opens the door for many people to reach for help. It brightens the dim future of many.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
