Pharmacology Treatments and Psychosocial Therapy to Decrease Opioid Use in Adolescents

Pharmacology Treatments and Psychosocial Therapy to Decrease Opioid Use in Adolescents
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Pharmacology Treatments and Psychosocial Therapy to Decrease Opioid Use in Adolescents
Opioid use in adolescents is a concerning substance abuse issue attracting significant public attention worldwide and at the national levels. According to Bourgault and Etcher (2022), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges that the prevalence of this issue has been worsening in recent years. Similar sentiments arise from the World Health Organization (WHO), demonstrating the importance of exploring this clinical problem. Compton and Jones (2019) note that this problem has existed for over 20 years and has gained momentum in the last decade. It has become a central issue in the shifting life expectancy among the American population, considering that researchers associated it with up to 47,600 deaths related to overdose in 2017. These statistics illustrate the urgency of addressing opioid use in adolescents using different strategies, including pharmacology treatments and psychosocial therapy.
Incidence, Prevalence, and Significance
Different studies reveal that opioid use is a gradually worsening clinical problem among adolescents. For instance, Jakub et al. (2022) indicate that although the number of youths shifting towards their use is increasing, the rate remains fairly concerning. Results from the National Institute of Health report that illicit drugs use among 10th-grade students have been as high as 30.4%. In comparison, marijuana and alcohol use rates stand at 28% and 40.7%, respectively (Bourgault & Etcher, 2022). Additional statistics indicate that seniors in high schools have also experimented with different types of substance abuse. For instance, over 36% and 20% have tried different illegal and prescription substances, respectively. The prevalence of these practices is a major concern in the fight against opioid use because they form a conduit for the latter’s initiation. Levy et al. (2018) argue that youths often start with the use of marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco before transitioning to the abuse of opioids. Such trends demonstrate the impact of commonly overlooked and undermined substances in the emergence of opioid abuse as a major clinical problem in American society. As a result, experts should identify the appropriate treatment techniques for addressing this clinical problem to temper its widespread adverse impacts on adolescents.
The associated ramifications on the affected population make opioids use a significant issue of concern. Jakub et al. (2022) agree that misuse of opioid drugs triggers diverse adverse aftermaths that range from social, health, and educational to legal challenges. The statistics highlighting the prevalence and incidence rates confirm the practice’s pressure on the overall healthcare system. These strains arise from direct care, prevention, and concealed costs. According to Bourgault and Etcher (2022), these costs can rise to $600 billion annually. Many other studies have confirmed that the financial burden of opioid use clinical problems remai...