Let’s say a teen goes in for an innocent wisdom tooth extraction. A common procedure, followed by a few days of recovery. Not without pain, but the dentist will likely give them a prescription for a common painkiller, like Vicodin, or (nowadays) Norco, otherwise known as hydrocodone. An opioid.

In a perfect world, this would be a safe route toward monitoring pain in an effective way, with little consequence. The teen gets through the surgery, recovers with minimal pain, and moves on. They don’t think about the prescription pills other than a safe method of having recovered from a standard procedure.

But what if there’s a few pills left over? Maybe that teen has heard about “downers,” or drugs that make you feel relaxed and at ease; sleepy and content. Let’s say that teen decides to pop one. They relax, feeling serene, enjoying the satisfcation that the drug brings. They chill out.

What’s happened is that the teen has had an initial exposure to both a powerful opiate and the experience of prescription misuse, and they’re probably a fan of the effects. This dangerous progression is all-too-common.

How To Deal With Teenage Illicit Drug Use

Of course, teens are (especially) not immune to the opioid epidemic that has plagued the United States. More and more teens are becoming addicted to opioids, and the number of heroin-related deaths is at an all-time high. The transition to prescription opioids to heroin is a natural one, since heroin is a far cheaper alternative with the same (if not stronger, in some cases) effects.

A shocking number of teens exposed to opioids at a younger age predicts a higher chance of opioid abuse in the early 20’s: “teens who received a prescription for opioid pain medication by Grade 12 were at 33 percent increased risk of misusing an opioid between ages 19 and 25.”

And even if those teens did not initially turn to opioid misuse, the risk of later misuse increases three times if they have an opioid prescription.

Teens with awareness of the dangers of misuing prescription drugs are potentially safer than others — and more prepared to avoid misuse, when they view opioids with caution.

The opioid epidemic of the United States has consumed lives and destroyed families, friendships, and communities. But with earlier awareness, teens with vulnerability can help to contribute to a sober future.