Uploaded April 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Monica, who is a peer parent coach at the Partnership, talks about the origin of her son’s opioid addiction and how their family found a path toward recovery.
When opioid pain medications like Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycontin, are taken as prescribed by a doctor and for a short period of time, they are safe for some, but not all people. When these medications are misused they can lead to opioid addiction and the risk of overdose increases significantly because they depress the body’s respiratory system to dangerous levels.
“Bobby, at the age of 15 innocently enough, got addicted to opiates,” says Monica. “It started when he had his wisdom extracted. I never knew that prescription pills would be where it would start.”
The risk of addiction to opioids can be greater when the patient is a teen or young adult because their brains are still developing. Opioids can stimulate the brain’s reward center, creating a sense of euphoria and well-being, which can contribute to misuse and addiction.
But with patience, love, and the right interventions, parents and family members can help them understand the dangers associated with prescription drug misuse, prevent them from developing a problem or help guide them to make healthier choices.
“Sometimes I would get so frustrated with him,” Monica says. “But I started going to support groups and I realized that my approach was working. I couldn’t shout it out of him. I needed to start really listening to my son, letting him lead the way instead of always forcing a path on him.”
For resources on the risks of prescription medications, especially opioid pain pills, alternatives to opioids for pain management, and parenting toward recovery, check out the links below.
WEB • When Opioid Pain Relievers Are Prescribed For Your Child – Should a health care provider recommend or prescribe an opioid for your child, there are important questions to ask, risks to be aware of, and safety precautions to take. drugfree.org/article/parents-know-opioids-pain-relievers-prescribed-child
GUIDE • Medication Misuse – With more than 4 billion prescriptions written each year in our country, it’s easy to understand the opportunity for misuse. Dive into the details with our prescription drug misuse guide. drugfree.org/article/medication-misuse-what-you-need-to-know-to-help-protect-children-teens-and-young-adults
WEB • Tools to Address Your Child's Substance Use – Learn about scientifically proven approaches to help parents and other caregivers change their child’s substance use by staying involved in a positive, ongoing way. drugfree.org/parenting-toward-recovery
WEB • Assess your loved one’s risk – The Partnership’s new risk assessment tool helps parents and other caregivers identify mental health and other issues that can lead to substance use and what to about it. drugfree.org/substance-use-risk-assessment
DONATE • Support families directly by funding our critical products and services – the Partnership provides trusted and compassionate guidance free of charge. You can help us reach the millions of families in need of our resources.
drugfree.org/?form=FUNHCTRHDZC
Recovering Together, our YouTube series that tells stories of loved ones impacted by substance use disorder invites family and loved ones to shed light on how you can help someone on the road to recovery. These videos shine a light on love, empathy, and the power of connection.
For more information on recovery and parent support, visit drugfree.org/article/hope-resources-families-video-series/.
Listen to more stories:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu1Vzpklw-4NHPrs2DNF_SPoQV0i9HMPP
About Partnership to End Addiction: Partnership to End Addiction is a national nonprofit providing personalized support and resources for families impacted by addiction. With decades of experience in direct services, communications and coalition-building, we mobilize families, policymakers, researchers, and health care professionals to more effectively address addiction systemically on a national scale.
For more information, visit drugfree.org.
Connect with us: drugfree.org
Facebook: facebook.com/PartnershipToEndAddiction
Twitter: twitter.com/ToEndAddiction
Instagram: instagram.com/PartnershipToEndAddiction
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/PartnershipToEndAddiction
#letsendaddiction
Monica, who is a peer parent coach at the Partnership, talks about the origin of her son’s opioid addiction and how their family found a path toward recovery.
When opioid pain medications like Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycontin, are taken as prescribed by a doctor and for a short period of time, they are safe for some, but not all people. When these medications are misused they can lead to opioid addiction and the risk of overdose increases significantly because they depress the body’s respiratory system to dangerous levels.
“Bobby, at the age of 15 innocently enough, got addicted to opiates,” says Monica. “It started when he had his wisdom extracted. I never knew that prescription pills would be where it would start.”
The risk of addiction to opioids can be greater when the patient is a teen or young adult because their brains are still developing. Opioids can stimulate the brain’s reward center, creating a sense of euphoria and well-being, which can contribute to misuse and addiction.
But with patience, love, and the right interventions, parents and family members can help them understand the dangers associated with prescription drug misuse, prevent them from developing a problem or help guide them to make healthier choices.
“Sometimes I would get so frustrated with him,” Monica says. “But I started going to support groups and I realized that my approach was working. I couldn’t shout it out of him. I needed to start really listening to my son, letting him lead the way instead of always forcing a path on him.”
For resources on the risks of prescription medications, especially opioid pain pills, alternatives to opioids for pain management, and parenting toward recovery, check out the links below.
WEB • When Opioid Pain Relievers Are Prescribed For Your Child – Should a health care provider recommend or prescribe an opioid for your child, there are important questions to ask, risks to be aware of, and safety precautions to take. drugfree.org/article/parents-know-opioids-pain-relievers-prescribed-child
GUIDE • Medication Misuse – With more than 4 billion prescriptions written each year in our country, it’s easy to understand the opportunity for misuse. Dive into the details with our prescription drug misuse guide. drugfree.org/article/medication-misuse-what-you-need-to-know-to-help-protect-children-teens-and-young-adults
WEB • Tools to Address Your Child's Substance Use – Learn about scientifically proven approaches to help parents and other caregivers change their child’s substance use by staying involved in a positive, ongoing way. drugfree.org/parenting-toward-recovery
WEB • Assess your loved one’s risk – The Partnership’s new risk assessment tool helps parents and other caregivers identify mental health and other issues that can lead to substance use and what to about it. drugfree.org/substance-use-risk-assessment
DONATE • Support families directly by funding our critical products and services – the Partnership provides trusted and compassionate guidance free of charge. You can help us reach the millions of families in need of our resources.
drugfree.org/?form=FUNHCTRHDZC
Recovering Together, our YouTube series that tells stories of loved ones impacted by substance use disorder invites family and loved ones to shed light on how you can help someone on the road to recovery. These videos shine a light on love, empathy, and the power of connection.
For more information on recovery and parent support, visit drugfree.org/article/hope-resources-families-video-series/.
Listen to more stories:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu1Vzpklw-4NHPrs2DNF_SPoQV0i9HMPP
About Partnership to End Addiction: Partnership to End Addiction is a national nonprofit providing personalized support and resources for families impacted by addiction. With decades of experience in direct services, communications and coalition-building, we mobilize families, policymakers, researchers, and health care professionals to more effectively address addiction systemically on a national scale.
For more information, visit drugfree.org.
Connect with us: drugfree.org
Facebook: facebook.com/PartnershipToEndAddiction
Twitter: twitter.com/ToEndAddiction
Instagram: instagram.com/PartnershipToEndAddiction
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/PartnershipToEndAddiction
#letsendaddiction
