TALKING WITH 

YOUR TEEN 

ABOUT OPIOIDS:

Keeping Your Kids Safe

TAKE ACTION

Use these tips to talk with your teen:

• Check in frequently to see how they

are doing;

• Choose informal times to talk, such

as in the car, during dinner, or while

watching TV;

• Be clear and consistent about your

expectations regarding opioids and other

drug use;

• Establish family agreements to spend time

together doing social and extracurricular

activities;

• Let them know you care and are always

there for them; and

• Continue talking with your teens as they

get older.

Help your teen create an “exit plan” in 

case	he	or	she	is	offered	or	faced	with	a	

difficult	decision	about	prescription	opioids	

(such as texting a code word to a family 

member). Peer pressure can be powerful, so 

coming up with realistic action steps and 

practicing them together in a safe 

environment will prepare and empower your 

teen to make good choices when it matters.

Make sure to properly store and dispose 

of all medication. All medications that are 

expired, unused, or no longer needed should 

be removed from your home and disposed of 

immediately. This will reduce the chances 

your teen takes medication accidentally, 

misuses it, or shares it intentionally. Visit 

https://takebackday.dea.gov/ to locate a 

collection site to safely dispose of your 

medication.

Research suggests that one of the most 

influential	factors	when	a	teen	is	growing	

up is a strong, open relationship with a 

parent or caregiver.

For more information about how to talk with 

your teen about prescription opioids, visit 

www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

and 

www.samhsa.gov.

www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

#TalkTheyHearYou

PEP20-03-01-002
It’s never too late to start talking with your teen 

about the risks of prescription opioid misuse. 

As teens age, they make more decisions on 

their own and face greater temptation and peer 

pressure. Though it may not seem like it, teens 

really do hear your concerns. It’s important you 

help them understand what prescription opioids 

are, why they shouldn’t misuse them, and why 

you shouldn’t combine them with alcohol or other 

drugs such as benzodiazepines.

WHAT ARE OPIOIDS?

Opioids are a group of drugs that include 

synthetic opioids like fentanyl, illegal drugs like 

heroin, and legal prescription pain relievers 

such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone 

(Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine. Prescription 

opioid pain medications can be helpful when 

used correctly under the guidance of a healthcare 

provider, but misuse can lead to dependence and 

addiction.

WHAT IS PRESCRIPTION OPIOID 

MISUSE AND HOW PREVALENT 

IS IT?

Prescription opioid misuse includes taking 

someone else’s medicine, using medicine in a 

way other than prescribed, taking medicine to 

get high, or mixing medicine with alcohol or other 

substances. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, 

and morphine are some of the most commonly 

misused prescription pain medications. 

After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs 

are the most commonly misused substances 

among Americans ages 14 and older. Teens 

and young adults are the biggest misusers of 

prescription pain medication. In 2018, more than 

695,000 youths ages 12–17 and 1.9 million young 

adults ages 18–25 reported misusing prescription 

pain medication in the past year. 

WHY ARE YOUNG PEOPLE 

MISUSING PRESCRIPTION 

OPIOIDS?

Young people may misuse prescription opioids 

for many reasons, including curiosity, peer 

pressure,	and	wanting	to	fit	in.	Another	reason	

teens and young adults may decide to take 

prescription opioids is because they can be easier 

to get than other drugs. Studies show that 53 

percent of people ages 12 or older who obtained 

prescription pain medication for nonmedical use 

obtained them from a friend or relative.

There are also some situations that may increase 

your teen’s risk of misusing prescription opioids. 

Research shows individuals who are prescribed 

opioids prior to graduating high school are 33 

percent more likely to misuse prescription opioids 

after graduating. Additionally, taking opioids after 

wisdom teeth removal also increases the odds of 

long-term use. Smokers are also more likely to 

misuse opioids than non-smokers. 

KNOW THE RISKS AND HARMS OF 

PRESCRIPTION OPIOID MISUSE

Using prescription opioids long term or incorrectly 

can cause the brain to become reliant on them 

and quickly lead to addiction. In fact, dependence 

on prescription opioids can happen after just 5 

days. Misusing prescription opioids or taking 

them in combination with alcohol or other drugs 

can also have other major, life-threatening 

consequences. Make sure you know the risks of 

prescription opioid misuse and are prepared to 

talk with your teen about them.

Risks include, but are not limited to:

• Allergic reactions;

• Breathing problems;

• Coma;

• Permanent brain damage; and

• Death.

The misuse of opioid pain medication—even 

just one time—can lead to serious illness or 

death. In 2016, 1 in 5 deaths among young adults 

were opioid related. Talk to your teen about the 

dangers of taking prescription pain relievers that 

don’t belong to them.