Opioids remain one of the most dangerous illicit substances on the streets today. They are also responsible for many of the overdoses and overdose deaths that the U.S. is currently experiencing. This includes the overdoses that happen to teens and other young adults. Now, the good news is that recovery is possible, and opioid recovery in a Longmont IOP is a great place to start the journey.
The Current Prevalence of Opioid Addictions Among Teens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The rise in opioid-related deaths has been classified into three waves: the first wave began in the 1990s, with prescription opioid deaths increasing. The second wave began in 2010, with rapid increases in overdose deaths involving heroin.” The CDC also states that the “third and present wave began in 2013, with significant increases in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, particularly those involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl.” This third wave of opioid addiction has been particularly hard on teenage populations.
The uptick in opioid use among teens correlates to an uptick in addictions, overdoses, and overdose deaths among teens. This is especially true now that fentanyl is quickly becoming the predominantly used opioid, which also increases the dangers of opioid use significantly.
The Dangers of Opioid Addictions
Statistics now show the specific dangers opioids pose to teens. The 2019 article Prescription Opioid Use and Misuse Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States: A National Survey Study explains that children and adolescents “have not been spared [from the opioid epidemic], with substantial increases over the past two decades in opioid-related emergency department visits, hospital and intensive care unit admissions, and deaths.” It further explains that opioid exposures “accounted for over 12% of all deaths in 2016 among 15- to 24-year-olds, which represents a 4-fold increase since 2001. According to the Centers for Disease Control’s 2018 National Vital Statistics report, unintentional injuries are now the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults, with poisoning the most common unintentional injury.”
This increase in opioid dangers, overdoses, and addictions represents an increased need for proper opioid recovery programs specific to teens. Now, the good news is that some exemplary teen programs can be found in Longmont, Colorado.
The Benefits of Opioid Recovery in a Longmont IOP for Teens
A Longmont IOP for teens can be ideal because it has the type of attention and direct focus that a teen needs. Just as everyone has specific needs when it comes to recovery, teens are no different.
First of all, it can be difficult when treating teens to differentiate between “normal” teenage behavior and behaviors that are associated with an opioid addiction. A reputable teen recovery center can sus out the differences and give each issue the appropriate focus and care. Also, because teens are still developing physically, mentally, and psychologically, it is important to navigate their recovery with this information at the forefront. Developmental psychologists can help with these issues.
The Benefits of Long-Term Opioid Recovery From a Longmont IOP
It must also be noted that teens have very specific and time-sensitive commitments that must be taken into account when it comes to their recovery. Perhaps the most prominent of these commitments has to do with academics.
The benefits of a Longmont IOP allow teens to stay engaged in their recovery while also staying engaged with their outside lives. This accountability and freedom allows a teen to navigate their new lives in recovery in a way that feels natural and not cumbersome to them. It also helps them create changes gradually which eventually can become the foundation for lasting change.
A Longmont IOP also has the benefit of being located in a place where teens can engage in healthy activities. Such activities can take them away from the temptations and their old behaviors related to opioid use. This includes hiking in the Rocky Mountains or taking in cultural events in Denver, located a mere 37 miles away. Longmont also has an exciting and engaging recovery community of young people. This type of healthy community can go a long way in ensuring that teens stay accountable to their recovery plan and avoid any potential for relapse.
No Age Requirement: Helping Everyone Heal From Addiction at The Redpoint Center
Here at The Redpoint Center, we understand that addiction does not care how old someone is when it takes hold. However, we also understand that certain populations need certain care in order to heal at the most optimal level. This includes teens and young people.
Opioid addiction is an epidemic in this country, and it is devastating our most vulnerable populations. It is time to put an end to it, which is what we try to do here at The Redpoint Center – one young person at a time. They have their whole life ahead of them, our job is to make sure they can enjoy it to its fullest.
An intensive outpatient program (IOP) can be ideal for teens recovering from opioid addictions. Also, Longmont, Colorado, has some of the best IOPs for teens in the country. They also have some highly regarded partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and sober living facilities for adults and teens alike. If you feel like you or a young person you love is struggling with opioids or any other type of addiction or mental illness, we can help get them onto the road to healthy and happy long-term recovery. For more information about the many benefits of Longmont IOPs and subsequent recovery plans, please reach out to The Redpoint Center today at (303) 710-8496.
