Heroin addiction affects not only adults, but teens as well. Today.com shined an important spotlight on the issue. Many treatment programs are designed for adults, which has left a hole for those teens who are battling an opioid addiction. But there is hope and, importantly, help available. For those in the West Side Cleveland area, we’re here for you. Reach out to us today.
“Addiction is the result of neurologic changes,” (Dr. Sharon Levy) explained. “It really is an acquired brain disease. And the medications can treat that. They can make patients better. I’ve been doing this for more than 15 years and I have seen kids really turn their lives around.”
Those changes in the brain are what justify treating an opioid addiction with another opioid. “When they stop using [the drugs] their brain is different and it’s no longer responsive to the body’s own chemicals,” Levy explained. “And so, what happens is people get cravings.”
While the cravings eventually disappear, other brain changes result in a loss of the ability to control behavior, Levy said. “And that’s a problem that goes on for a very long time,” she added. “So once they’re addicted, they really lose control and their use of drugs almost becomes obsessive.”
The downside of not addressing the problem is huge. “Kids who have opioid-use disorders who don’t get treatment — 90 percent or more of them will continue to use drugs,” Levy said.
To read the complete article on teen heroin addiction, click here.