Drug education and prevention work; it's proven effective. Parents' or caregivers' early conversations with their kids make a real difference. Amid the opioid epidemic, these conversations have become critical.
Fentanyl and fentanyl analogs are found in most drugs and are even made to look like prescription pain medication. There is a real risk of deadly overdose. Social media platforms provide easy access to illegal drugs.
Online drug dealers target young people because of the frequency they use social media. Anyone buying drugs online will never know what they are getting. Over the past 15 years, over 17,500 Washington residents have died from a drug overdose. Approximately 68% of those deaths involved opioids. Since 2019, opioid-related deaths have nearly doubled.
Prevention and education resources are critical, such as The Parent’s Guide to Fentanyl and local resources and organizations. Yet, it begins with parents and caregivers speaking with their kids. Consider some of the following tips:
These talks aim to build trust and a safe environment where youth can come to their parents at any time and speak about the things they are experiencing.
It's never too late to start having these talks. When youth and teens know the dangers, they begin making informed decisions and avoiding dangerous situations. There are different risks now with recreational drug use, and young people must understand these risks.
Marcel Gemme has been helping people struggling with substance use for over 20 years, most recently with the creation of SUPE: Substance Use Prevention Education. His work focuses on a threefold approach: education, prevention, and rehabilitation.
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