Drug Overdose Prevention for Teens & Adults

 

The use of drugs among teens and adults has greatly increased since 2020. It is frightening that more teens are risking their lives by being challenged to drink alcohol and pain medications. There is too much emphasis on using drugs, pain medications, over-the-counter medications, and drug candies to entice the younger generation to do challenges on social media. These challenges on Tik Tok, Facebook, and other apps that teens use should be reported on their company’s website. Parents should keep an eye on their teens mental, physical, and well-being.

Also, parents, teachers, and other guardians should be aware of the symptoms of a drug overdose. There are many symptoms to look out for which are listed here:

1. Dilated pupils, nausea, blue lips, or blue fingernails
2. Changes in behavior and lack of interest
3. Convulsions, nervous ticks, and seizures
4. Lack of coordination, changes in eating habits, changes in physical appearance, and medication in medical bottles without labels
5. Spending more time alone and not wanting to be with their friends or with their adult relatives
6. Vomiting
7. Empty alcohol bottles in their rooms and empty over-the-counter medication boxes
8. Too many Nyquil bottles in their rooms
9. Irresponsible driving
10. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and paranoia

Drug overdoses can be intentional and unintentional depending on the circumstances. Listen carefully to your teens and to your adults who are feeling depressed, too stressed out, and not behaving as they would naturally be behaving. Have conversations with your teens and adults in a calm manner. Know where your teens are at and make sure there is adult supervision with someone you can trust. There is a lot a parent can do to make sure their teens are safe while learning to become an adult. 

Do an inventory of over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, vitamins, herbal supplements, birth control pills, and sedatives. Get resources from your health care provider, clinics, and your child's schools about drug prevention. Educate yourself about drug overdose and the terminology teens use that refer to drugs. Ask their teachers if they notice changes in behavior, changes in their grades, and comments referring to drugs. Also, if they hear about suicidal thoughts or comments. 

Additionally, set a good example for your teens. If adults are addicted to drugs while a teen is present, a teen will more likely imitate what the adult does. Therefore, it is important to know who your teens are with. Let your teens know that being in the popular group at school is not important. Tell them not to follow or be influenced by anyone in their school or their adult relatives with bad habits. 

Seek professional help if you notice or suspect your teenager is addicted to drugs. Pay attention to your teenager's Tik Tok challenge conversations and comments about being pressured to use alcohol or drugs. Drug addictions in teenagers can eventually lead to a drug overdose if the addiction is not treated. Drug overdoses need to be prevented in schools, homes, and public environments.  Here are resources about drug overdose. 

Fentanyl, Teens, and The Deadly Consequences-Project Know:

Fentanyl, Teens, and the Deadly Consequences - Project Know

Teenage Drug Addiction-Risks, Causes, and More-Very Well Health:

Teenage Drug Addiction: Risks, Causes, and More (verywellhealth.com)

Teen Drug Abuse-Help Your Teen Avoid Drugs-Mayo Clinic:

Teen drug abuse: Help your teen avoid drugs - Mayo Clinic

Overdose Signs & Symptoms-Drug Overdose Treatment:

Overdose Signs & Symptoms | Drug Overdose Treatment (drugabuse.com)

* Fonts, backgrounds, and borders from PiZap