Prescription opioid use in decline for high school seniors

assess healthy and unhealthy relationships between prescription opioids and adolescents in America. He added that the goal isn’t to cut down prescription opioids but to achieve a balance by assuring parents are appropriately treated when medically necessary while reducing the likelihood of opioid-related consequences.

There are several useful approaches physicians can take, he said:

  • “Use prescription drug monitoring programs to assist in identifying misuse as a routine practice.”
  • “Clinical decision making with adolescents and parents/guardians about risks and benefits of pain management with and without prescription opioids, including the importance of proper storage, monitoring and disposal of prescription opioids.”
  • “Screening for any history of nonmedical use of prescription opioids, substance use disorders and other mental health disorders.”
  • “Prescribing the lowest effective dose and the minimum quantity with concomitant use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen to decrease opioid requirement when not contraindicated.”
  • “Avoiding concurrent prescription of sedatives per the Center for Disease and Control and Prevention’s best practice recommendations.”

The target goal isn’t to decrease prescription opioids but to achieve a healthy balance between ensuring patients are appropriately evaluated with prescription opioids when necessary while reducing the likelihood of adverse opioid-related results, he said. “The current study and other national studies indicate we have more work to do in order to strike the correct balance.”

Cesar Gamboa
Author: Cesar Gamboa

Cesar Gamboa is a staff reporter and editor for Addiction Now covering topics ranging from legislation to scientific studies. He was previously a general assignment reporter for the Orange County Register. SoCal raised, lover of books, and avid mountain biker (when he wants to be). He can be reached at cesarg@addictionnow.com.

Summary
Article Name
Prescription opioid use in decline for high school seniors
Description
Prescription opioid consumption is decreasing nationwide among high school seniors, a new study revealed this month.
Author
Cesar Gamboa
Publisher Name
Addiction Now