For many teens, a heroin addiction begins with an addiction to another sort of drug that’s widely available: an opioid pain medication. Drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin are widely available in family medicine cabinets, and they’re easy targets for teens who want to feel a bit of a buzz without worrying that they’re going to get arrested for the act of buying drugs.
Unfortunately teens develop a tolerance to these prescription medications and may begin looking to other drugs that can provide the same or stronger high. Teens who abuse opioids turn to heroin use due to the accessibility, strength of the high and low cost. What teens don’t realize are the dangers of heroin use and the difficulty to come off of the drug.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about teen heroin use and abuse here.