How to Talk to Your Teen About Opioid Drugs

Many parents don't believe their teen would ever misuse opioids. I'm here to tell you that it can and does happen even in the "best" of families.

Opioids are the most common cause of fatal poisonings in young children. There are many factors contributing to death caused by opioids, including the emergence of illegally manufactured fentanyl, which can be up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Because fentanyl is being mixed with other illicit drugs like heroin, a much smaller amount can lead to a deadly overdose very quickly. But some good news is that from 2021 to 2022, the rate of drug overdose deaths decreased among adults ages 15 to 24.

Initiate Conversations With Young People

It amazes me how many young people have never discussed drugs and their dangers with their parents. Factual information from a caring adult can make a huge difference. In fact, research shows that teens who are educated at home about the risks of drug use are 50% less likely to use drugs than teens who are not taught about the dangers at home. 

This is why parents need to initiate age-appropriate conversations about drug use with their children at all stages of their development in order to help them make the right decisions. It's like the "sex talk" parents must have with their kids. Consider the "drug talk" an essential conversation, too. Don't be afraid of broaching a heavy topic. Here are some tips for doing so:

• First and foremost, get educated. Learn the facts about what various drugs are and their effects on the body and brain. Even if your teen already knows everything (as many teens think they do), they're much more likely to listen if you really know what you're talking about.
• Find out what your teen already knows and is hearing from other sources like friends, social media or websites. Be prepared to counter misinformation with facts.
• If your child asks you a question and you don't know the answer, say you'll get it and then have the conversation again.
• Whether you suspect your child is using drugs or you're just being a proactive parent, speak in a way that doesn't sound like blame.
• Get to an emotional place where you feel comfortable having this conversation; maybe that means practicing or role-playing with a friend or your spouse.
• Sometimes your teen will be more receptive to having this conversation with another trusted adult, a babysitter, a "cool" aunt or uncle, or a therapeutic mentor. Enlist their help.
• Remember that this isn't a one-and-done situation. Have ongoing conversations about the dangers of drug use, like when there's a story in the news.

Resources

It's also important to know some resources that exist to support you and your family. One of the best organizations I've found is Learn to Cope (www.learn2cope.org). It's a Massachusetts-based, nonprofit support network that offers education, resources, peer support, and hope for parents and family members coping with a loved one addicted to opiates or other drugs. It has become a nationally recognized model for peer support and prevention programming. 

Also, the Helpline is a statewide, public resource for finding substance use harm reduction, treatment, recovery and problem gambling services. Call: 800.327.5050 or you can Text: “HOPE” to 800327.

The bottom line is not to wait for your teen to bring up the subject of drugs. The percentage of adolescents reporting they used any illicit substances in 2023 continued to hold steady below the prepandemic levels reported in 2020, with 10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of 10th graders, and 31.2% of 12th graders reporting any illicit drug use in the past year. Start a conversation with your teen today. Learn what they already know, and be prepared to share the facts. 

Guest Blogger: Stephanie Manzi, LMHC, Vice President, Substance Use and Crisis Services