College students rarely seek help despite serious substance use problems

There is an opportunity for substance use disorder (SUD) prevention efforts among college students, with less than 9 percent of college students seeking help for issues involving alcohol and marijuana. Social pressure, whether formal or informal, was shown to be a key factor in individuals taking the step to ask for help. SUD severity did not play a critical role, nor did a self-perceived need for aid. Study results highlight a need for more and better information about ways to encourage early intervention and identification of SUD among this population.

Prescription Opioid Exposures Among Children and Adolescents in the United States: 2000-2015

Prescription opioid exposure is not always at the forefront of substance use prevention efforts. The decade and a half period between 2000 to 2015 revealed that additional substance misuse and disorder prevention efforts are needed for individuals who are less than 20 years old. Serious medical outcomes and health care facility admissions were noted for teenagers in this study. A significant increase in buprenophrine exposures was also documented in children between 0 and 5 years of age, with 9 out of 10 incidents involving children in this age group. Prescription medication disposal is simple, easy to implement solution, which has the potential to make a significant positive impact on this age group.

Behavioral Intervention and Disposal of Leftover Opioids: A Randomized Trial

Results from this study suggest that the prevalence of prescription opioid use among adolescents and young adults in the US is high despite known risks for future opioid and other drug use disorders. Reported prescription opioid misuse is common among adolescents and young adults and often associated with additional substance abuse, underscoring the importance of drug and alcohol screening programs in this population. Prevention and treatment efforts should take into account that greater than half of youths misusing prescription opioids obtain these medications through friends and relatives.