Is prescription opioid drug use among youth increasing or decreasing?

Prescription opioid drug use among youth has been observed to be decreasing in recent years. This trend can be attributed to various public health initiatives aimed at educating both youth and parents about the risks associated with prescription opioid misuse, as well as increased awareness of the opioid epidemic.

Additionally, there has been a concerted effort to monitor and regulate prescriptions more strictly, which helps limit access to these medications for non-medical use. Shifts in prescribing practices, including the use of non-opioid alternatives for pain management, have also contributed to this decline.

Community awareness programs and the promotion of safe medication storage and disposal practices have further empowered families to prevent misuse of opioids. Despite the ongoing national concern regarding overall opioid misuse, particularly with illicit substances, this specific demographic’s decreased use of prescription opioids represents a positive trend in addiction prevention efforts.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the current evidence or trends in relation to youth prescription opioid use.