Illicit Use of Opioids Among Young Users

       Illegal use of pharmaceutical drugs has been identified as one of the fastest growing forms of drug abuse in the U.S., with pain relievers showing the highest prevalence rates of non-medical use among all other therapeutic classes of prescription drugs (SAMHSA, 2006). The leading motive for non medical opioid use was "to relax or relieve tension" Research I found revealed evidence of a growing epidemic of opioid misuse among teenagers. Sub groups of youths that were at particularly high risk include females, blacks, those of lower socio-economic status, and those who hold favorable attitudes toward illicit drugs, have detached parents, or have friends who use illicit drugs. Respondents own use of other illicit drugs is the strongest factor of their non medical use of prescription opioids.

      Non medical use of prescription opioids is a recurrent epidemic and valuable lessons from past epidemics of this nature can be learned if data is studied. Prevention campaigns should be more common and target groups at risk for substance abuse and focus on improving family bonds and drug resistance skills.

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2692760/