Clearfork Academy has released a guide on the signs of fentanyl use in teenagers, responding to growing concerns over the teenage drug overdose crisis in the U.S. With fentanyl believed to be involved in at least 75% of adolescent overdose deaths, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, Clearfork Academy aims to educate parents on how to recognize fentanyl use in their children and how to treat it.
For more information, please visit https://clearforkacademy.com/blog/9-signs-your-teen-is-using-fentanyl/
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times stronger than morphine, and a dose the size of a few grains of salt can easily result in death, says Clearfork Academy’s guide. Teenagers may sometimes gain access to this drug through the toxic drug supply or contaminated medications and unknowingly consume it for recreational purposes or to cope with mental health struggles.
Per Clearfork Academy’s resource, the most reliable sign of fentanyl use is constricted pupils, even in low light. A glassy and unfocused gaze may accompany this symptom, as fentanyl is a powerful nervous system depressant that can cause sedation in the user.
Fentanyl also produces an unnatural rush of dopamine for a short period of time, leaving the brain with a chemical deficit once the effects wear off. Clearfork Academy’s guide says that this can result in extreme mood swings and volatile emotions that are distinct from normal teenage moodiness in their intensity.
Additionally, fentanyl use can drive behaviors that are typical of substance abuse cases, including social withdrawal, loss of engagement in school, a sudden need for money, and dramatic changes in sleep and appetite. Finally, parents who notice that their teen has trouble breathing must act quickly, as this indicates that an overdose is imminent.
If parents discover drug paraphernalia and other related items in their teen’s room or otherwise have a strong reason to suspect that their child is using fentanyl, Clearfork Academy’s guide advises them to take an empathetic approach when initiating a conversation with the teen. The guide adds that fentanyl dependence or addiction usually requires professional treatment, and drug rehab programs designed for youths offer the best chance of recovery.
More information is available at https://clearforkacademy.com/