'How much heroin is too much heroin?' Youth inquiries regarding opioids. (4th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morton, Cory M.; D'Amore, Nicholas; Nolte, Kerry; Bryan, Philip
• Is Part Of: Drugs. Volume 28:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 240
• Page End: 245
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04
• Subjects: Opioids -- prevention education -- youth; Health education -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Polytoxicomanie -- Périodiques; 362.291705
• DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2020.1804530
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-7637

Abstract

Abstract: Primary prevention initiatives specifically designed for youth are an important strategy to combat the opioid crisis in the United States. The developmental period of adolescence is critical for impacting lifetime patterns of opioid misuse. Providing youth with relevant information to guide decisions around initiation of drug use may reduce the most serious opioid related harms. Prevention interventions have primarily been developed by experts in the field, with little emphasis on addressing the desires of youth. This study is a content analysis of opioid related questions posed by youth to substance use experts during the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Chat Day program. Findings indicate youth could benefit from definitional information about opioids, the relative risk of opioid use, and the development and outcomes of dependence. Implications for addressing youth curiosity about the use of opioids and youth exposure to opioid use and related harms are discussed within conceptual categories for prevention curricula.