---
title: "What You Should Know about Opioids"
date: 2018-07-25
author: "Birmingham Christian Family"
featured_image: "https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Special-Feature-Alabama-Statistics-about-Opioids-IMAGE-Aug-18.jpg"
categories:
  - name: "Health"
    url: "/category/news/health.md"
  - name: "Parenting"
    url: "/category/news/family/parenting.md"
  - name: "Youth/Kids"
    url: "/category/news/family/youth-kids.md"
tags:
  - name: "Featured"
    url: "/tag/featured.md"
---

# What You Should Know about Opioids

Alabama Statistics about Opioids:

- The number of overdose deaths(OD) climbed by 82% from 2006 to 2014 (and this is with little consistency around ER’s not reporting on OD deaths)
- In 2016, there were 756 drug-related deaths in Alabama, the majority of which were opioid related
- In 2016, Alabama doctors wrote 121 prescriptions per every 100 persons, which is equivalent to 1.2 prescriptions for every man, woman and child in our state.
- Governor Kay Ivey established the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council in 2017. The Council is charged with developing a comprehensive strategic plan to abate the Opioid crisis in Alabama.

Opioid Abuse among Teens:

- 23% of students who had used opioids less than 40 times reported using heroin
- 7% of those who use heroin admitted to also having used prescription opioids non-medically
- Half the teenage Medicaid patients in Alabama prescribed opioids in 2016 got them from dentists or oral surgeons
- About 1 in 6 patients between age 13-18 on Medicaid received an opioid from a provider in 2016

Common Signs of Opioid Misuse in Teens:

- Negative changes in grades
- Skipping classes or school
- Dropping longtime friends
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Changes in appearance
- Changes in general behavior, including sleeping and eating habits

Things parents can do to help teens avoid risks:

- Take inventory of prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs you have at home. Properly destroy unused or outdated medicine
- Monitor and safeguard any and all prescription drugs that a child is currently taking.
- Role model care and careful use (not misuse) of any and all prescription drugs you use. Use opportunity to educate.
- Openly discuss the risks of use and the importance of medical supervision and proper disposal.
- Understand motives behind signs of use or misuse (i.e. weight loss, pain, grades) and speak compassionately first.
- Be honest (come clean) if your child challenges your own use.
- Discuss how avoidance of addictive substances is part of health consciousness

*-Information provide by Addiction Prevention Coalition*

*100 Union Hill Drive, Suite 150*

*Birmingham, AL 35209*

[*www.apcbham.org*](http://www.apcbham.org)