HEALTHY FAMILY
Keep an eye out for signs of opioid misuse
in adolescents, which include drowsiness,
constipation, nausea, dizziness, vomit-
ing, dry mouth, headaches, sweating, mood
changes, loss of appetite and weakness,
according to youth.gov.

But regardless of your child’s risk factors,
it’s important to remember that anyone can
become addicted to opioids. Talking to your
children about opioids before they have the
chance to be exposed to them can help keep
them safe.

How should parents talk to their
children about the risk?
“Be honest and straightforward,” Christo
says. “Describe the opioids. Be very frank
about that. It can easily lead to death. Let
kids know what’s on the streets now and
that these are the dangers. You may not have
a second chance.”
Parents who have experience with addic-
tion and substance abuse do not need to shy
away from having a conversation about it
dangers, explains the National Institute on
Drug Abuse.

“Whether or not you tell your child about
your past drug use is a personal decision.

But experience can better equip us to teach
others by drawing on the value of past mis-
takes,” the institute notes.

Youth.gov lists some helpful tips in talking
to your teen:
• Make sure they were not using opioids
right before the conversation.

• Express concerns, but do not make
accusations. • Be specific in what you have observed.

• Prepare for strong reactions and
stay calm.

• Reinforce your opinions on drug use
and how much you care.

Where can parents find help?
After talking to your kids or teens, it’s
important to seek help from professionals
such as a school counselor or family doc-
tor, or find an available treatment program.

SAMHSA has a tool on its website, sam-
hsa.gov, which allows you to search opioid
treatment programs by state.

Christo says schools can help, too, by pro-
viding education on drug use that is more
frequent and comprehensive.

“If it were three to four times a year
that would be helpful—if it were more spe-
cific in talking about opioids and their
dangers,” he says.

Another way parents can help is to encour-
age children to participate in after-school
programs and activities. Youth programs
such as Teens Run DC—which combines
distance running, mentoring and social emo-
tional learning—provide teens with feelings
of belonging and support while encouraging
healthy habits.

Children may avoid talking to parents if
they feel stressed about another issue, are
embarrassed or striving to feel more self-re-
liant. Because of this, having another adult
in your child’s life can go to can go a long way
in encouraging healthy habits and decreas-
ing risk. T
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