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Pressure, partying, and pills – a sequence common in teenagers.
It can start from accepting a nudge when they’re feeling down, and end with losing their sense of control.
But when a “happy pill” is shown like an advertisement – alluring, forbidden, and desired – a teenager would surely be drawn to it.
It doesn’t always happen at once. It can start after a few too many sleepless nights, or an especially horrible breakup. But suddenly, a teenager who could never imagine taking drugs for recreation begins to look at them with one question in mind; ‘What if this can make me feel better?’.
Opioid use does not simply stem from a lack of self-control, but rather many other factors that one can fail to consider.
In terms of gender, according to Mayo Clinic, women tend to have differing risk factors, such as the fact that they are more likely to be prescribed opioid medicines, with larger doses in prolonged periods of time. They are also more likely to become dependent on opioids prescribed for pain relief.
This shows that personal choices are not the only risk factor when it comes to an addiction, but rather unethical medical practices can play a role as well.
All teens, regardless of whether their exposure to opioids comes from a prescription or a party, have factors that influence why some teenagers are more likely to develop an addiction compared to others.
Researchers conducted a study on 70 teens and their accompanying parent and reported in the medical journal Addictive Behaviors that over 90% of teens were found with risk factors. Some of these risk factors were ones that may seem obvious, such as previous alcohol use, lower confidence, and mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
However, there were also less obvious factors, such as pain catastrophizing. Pain catastrophizing is when one feels as if their physical pain is unable to improve. This can make teens rely on opioids, believing they are unable to feel better without them.
Other factors included a teen’s parents and their behavior. Parents with more stress and anxiety increased the risk for their children to misuse opioids. But this was not just a result of parental stress, but rather how they handled it. Parents that relied on opioids or drugs as a way of coping led to their teenagers developing similar habits.
Although causes of addictions may seem obvious, it stems from much more than wanting to take risks or a lack of responsibility. Sometimes, when a lack of solutions is present to a teenager, it can be easy for them to fixate on a “happy pill” that can allow for what seems like a temporary reprieve.
At times like these, it is important to not judge teenagers for turning to opioids, but to help them find healthier ways to manage their pain and stress.
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.
