You might have heard of the nation’s opioid crisis or wondered about whether a medication prescribed to your child/teen is safe. You may be concerned about the potential of your child/teen drinking or using marijuana and feel overwhelmed with worrying about prescription medication. The recent increase in accidental fentanyl poisonings from using illicit drugs that have fentanyl added to them is alarming. This document defines what misusing prescription pain medication is, explores the potential risks associated with misuse, and reviews how to reduce the likelihood that your child/teen will misuse prescription pain medication. As a parent or someone in a parenting role, your awareness is vital, and there are practical things you can do to make a difference.

Call Out Box:

Early and frequent conversations[1] with your child/teen about the risks of substance use are an essential part of preventing substance use. In those conversations, talk about prescription pain medication as well as alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine.

Prescription pain medications are also called opioids and include oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, and others. Brand names include Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet; common names include Oxy and Percs. People who have misused prescription pain medication report doing so to relieve pain, to feel good or “get high,” or to relieve tension. Prescription pain medicine is highly addictive, which can make it extremely difficult for people to stop using.^1,2

Most people have taken medication prescribed by a doctor or other healthcare provider, and we often perceive those medications as safe and helpful. Because prescription pain medication is addictive, concern arises with “misuse” of these medications. Misuse of prescription pain medication occurs when someone:

● Uses a prescription pain medication not prescribed for themself, such as using medication prescribed for a family member or friend

● Uses a prescription pain medication in a way other than directed by the doctor or prescriber, such as taking a larger dose or using it for longer than directed

● Uses a prescription pain medication for the feeling the drug causes or to “get high”^1

The use of prescription pain medication is common, including by children/teens, and is often thought of as safe and helpful. Some children/teens underestimate the dangers associated with misusing prescription pain medication and may also believe that misusing prescription medication is safer than using other drugs.^3 But, misuse of prescription pain medication is associated with serious adverse health outcomes^1,4 including:

● Use of alcohol and other drugs

● Increased risk of developing a substance use disorder

● Overdose

● Poisoning and death resulting from fentanyl-laced illicit drugs

Misuse of prescription pain medication can lead to tolerance, where greater amounts of the medication are needed to obtain the same effect. For example, with prescription opioids, tolerance can mean that stronger medications and larger doses are needed to achieve pain relief. Misuse can also lead to dependence, where a person experiences withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking the medication, and medical support can be needed to discontinue the use of the medication safely.^1,5

Misusing prescription pain medication can also lead to the use of other drugs, especially