Understanding Painkillers and How Teens Abuse Them
Most painkillers are classified as opiates and come from the poppy plant. Common opiates prescribed by doctors for severe pain include Vicodin, Oxycontin, morphine or codeine. Street names for these drugs include “Vikes”, “T-Threes”, “Ox” or “Cough Syrup”. They can be detected in urine only up to 2-3 days after use. Opiates are also abused because of the high feeling they produce in some people. Teens abuse pain killers more than any other drug except marijuana with one in five reporting abuse of a painkiller at least once in their lifetime. When taken without a prescription or in a manner other than how they were prescribed, they can be very dangerous and addictive. They work by acting on the limbic system causing feelings of pleasure and relaxation, the brainstem by slowing down breathing, stopping coughing and relieving pain and the spinal cord by also working to relieve pain. If they are taken orally such as in pill form, they take longer to reach the brain. If they are crushed and injected or snorted, they reach the brain quickly and will produce an intense feeling of pleasure followed by a sense of calm and drowsiness.
It is important that Riverwood parents recognize what a growing problem pain killer abuse is as well as the signs their teen may be abusing pain killers. Teens that are using over a period of time may experience mood swings, unpredictable behavior, slowed breathing, runny nose, constipation, sleep disturbances, poor hygiene and a change in friends. Prescribed medications may start to disappear from the medicine cabinet. Friends may change, grades may start to slip and activities once enjoyed may be dropped. Actively high teens may have constricted pupils, extreme fatigue or euphoria, and slurred speech. A helpful website which can aid in identifying medication can be found at
Teens that are abusing or have developed an addiction to pain killers need treatment including medical supervision as the physical withdrawal when regular use ceases abruptly can be quite painful. Parents who discover their teens are abusing pain killers should contact their physician, rehab center/hospital or a substance abuse counselor for an evaluation immediately. Resources for an evaluation in Atlanta include Ridgeview Institute:770- 434-4567, Peachford Hospital: 770-455-3200and Solution Atlanta:678-624-0930.
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