The opioid crisis has affected people of all ages, but it is particularly devastating when it touches the life of a young adult. For a parent or caregiver, watching your child struggle with opioid addiction can be a uniquely terrifying and confusing experience. For a young person, feeling trapped by opioids can feel like their future is being stolen before it even begins.
This guide is for both of you. It explains the unique factors that put young people at risk, how to start a conversation about getting help, and what accessible, effective treatment looks like. At Arrow Medical, we provide compassionate, walk-in care tailored to the needs of our younger patients.
Why Are Young Adults More Vulnerable?
Understanding that addiction is a brain disease is crucial. The adolescent and young adult brain is still under construction, which makes it more vulnerable to the powerful effects of opioids.
- Brain Development: The prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for impulse control, planning, and decision-making—is not fully developed until the mid-20s. As our guide on the Science of Addiction explains, this “braking system” is already less mature, making it easier for the reward-seeking part of the brain to take over.
- Mental Health Challenges: Young adulthood is a peak time for the emergence of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. A young person may start using opioids to self-medicate these painful feelings, inadvertently starting the cycle of a dual diagnosis.
- Peer Influence and Social Environment: The desire to fit in and experiment is a normal part of being young. However, in an environment where opioids are available, this normal developmental stage can have tragic consequences.
Signs of Opioid Use in a Young Person
If you are worried about your child, some common signs include:
- Behavioural Changes: Increasing secrecy, withdrawing from family, losing interest in hobbies or sports, and a sudden change in friend groups.
- Decline in Performance: A noticeable drop in grades at school or poor performance at work.
- Physical Signs: Drowsiness or “nodding off” at unusual times, small “pinpoint” pupils, significant weight loss.
- Financial Issues: Unexplained lack of money or, conversely, sudden extra cash; items going missing from the home.
How to Talk About Getting Help
For a parent, the conversation must come from a place of unconditional love and concern, not anger and punishment.
- Choose a calm moment when no one is rushed or upset.
- Use “I” statements. Say “I’m worried about your health,” instead of “You are using drugs.”
- Frame it as a medical problem. Say, “I’ve learned that this is a disease, and there is medical help available. We will get through this as a family.”
- Listen without judgment. Try to understand what’s going on in their life that might be contributing to their use.
If you are a young person reading this, please know that talking to a trusted adult—a parent, a school counsellor, a doctor—is the first step. You don’t have to carry this burden alone.
Accessible and Effective Treatment Options
For young adults, treatment needs to be immediate and low-barrier. They may not have the resources or ability to navigate complex referral systems or waitlists.
- Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT): Methadone and Suboxone are safe and effective for young adults. They stabilize the brain, stop cravings, and allow a young person to get back to school, work, and their life.
- Sublocade Injections: The monthly Sublocade injection can be an excellent option. It removes the pressure of daily clinic visits, which can be a major benefit for a young person trying to manage a busy school or work schedule.
- Walk-In, Judgment-Free Care: At Arrow Medical, our walk-in model means you can get help the same day you ask for it. Our clinics in Barrie, Toronto, and across Ontario provide a confidential, respectful environment where you will be treated as a patient with a health condition.
Early intervention is key. Addiction is a treatable disease, and a full, healthy life is possible. Don’t wait. Walk into an Arrow Medical clinic today and start the journey back to hope.