Substances
- Opioids
- Fentanyl
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Prescription Medication
- E-Cigarettes and Vapes
Opioids
Opioids are a class of powerful drugs including illegal substances such as heroin and prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine. Doctors prescribe opioids for pain relief in patients recovering from serious injury or surgery, or in patients suffering from debilitating diseases such as cancer. Young people who abuse opioids usually obtain them from family or friends with prescriptions, though they are also sold illegally. As with other addictive substances, young people are more susceptible to addiction to opioids because their brains are still developing.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a potent opioid used by doctors to treat pain and induce anesthesia during surgery. But it is also produced and sold illegally, sometimes in combination with or under the name of other prescription medications such as OxyContin and Adderall. This kind of contamination, along with its potency, makes fentanyl extraordinarily dangerous and one of the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths today.
Alcohol
Alcohol poses serious health risks despite being socially acceptable and legal for those of drinking age. It impairs judgment and lowers inhibitions, making it a leading factor in sexual assault as well as car accidents, homicide, and suicide. It is especially dangerous for young people, who get drunk more quickly than adults, have a harder time knowing when to stop, and are more prone to addiction because their brains are still developing.
Marijuana
Marijuana is a psychoactive drug produced from the cannabis plant. Although the drug has been legalized in some parts of the country, it remains federally illegal. As the potency of marijuana has dramatically increased in recent decades, so have its health risks. Smoking marijuana, which contains many of the same toxins as cigarettes, poses many of the same risks as smoking tobacco. But unlike tobacco, marijuana impairs concentration, coordination, and reaction time and has been linked to depression and anxiety. Marijuana is especially dangerous for young people, inhibiting the development of their brains and increasing the risk of addiction to other substances.
Prescription Medication
Prescription medications are those drugs, including opioids, depressants, and stimulants, that cannot be legally obtained without a prescription from a doctor. The fact that doctors sometimes prescribe them does not mean that they are safe to use. On the contrary, their use is regulated precisely because they are dangerous and unpredictable, producing different effects in different people and often harmful or even fatal side effects. The danger is even greater in the case of prescription drugs that are obtained illegally, which were likely produced illegally, introducing the risk of contamination.
E-Cigarettes and Vapes
E-cigarettes and vapes are delivery devices for nicotine, the same harmful and highly addictive stimulant found in tobacco. These devices work by heating a nicotine-containing liquid, or “e-liquid,” into a vapor that can be inhaled. Contrary to popular belief, e-cigarettes and vapes are just as dangerous and addictive as cigarettes. E-liquid can contain up to 2,000 ingredients, including carcinogens and other known toxins, which, along with nicotine, can lead to heart disease and cancer.
Substances
Learn The Facts
Learning the facts about substance use - from the effects of individual drugs to the symptoms of a drug overdose - will help you answer your child's questions, empowering them to make informed decisions. It could save their lives or help them save someone else's.
Start The Conversation
Talking with your child about substance use can be difficult. But these are some of the most important conversations you will ever have. Follow these tips to set the stage for effective communication with your child.
Family Resource Guide
A downloadable version of this Resource Guide, which contains all of the material from the website and more, is available here. Use it at your convenience to learn the facts about substance use and to prepare for crucial conversations with your child.
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You are your child's greatest resource when it comes to learning about substance use. But you are not alone.
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