Narcotic Abuse Awareness from a 14 Year Old Student

Narcotic Abuse Awareness

I have never personally studied drugs or drug addiction. A few months ago our youth pastor had a guest speaker come talk to our youth group regarding the dangers of prescription narcotics.  Several weeks later I had to have knee surgery. Before I went back to the OR, the anesthesiologist came to talk to me and explained the medications he would be giving me to go to sleep and then the medications I would be sent home with for pain. I remembered the information that I was given at church and it enabled me to question my doctor about what pain medication I would be given post surgery. I was wary of the types of medicine due to the warnings that I was given specifically about opioids.

I was going to be prescribed Hydrocodone (this drug was mentioned during the lesson). He did explain to me that narcotics do have their place and safety in short-term use for extreme pain. I still felt I wanted to be very cautious and so I decided to take one dosage of the medicine the next morning. From then on I only used over the counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, Aleve, and Tylenol. I was blessed that I was able to manage my pain enough with those that I was dancing on my leg the next day.   

I have seen first hand the dangers of drug addiction in friends. I am grateful to have been educated on ways I can protect myself from falling into a trap of potential addiction.

Thank you for your ministry to our community, making all of us more aware of how to care for family members and ourselves.

Daniel Walker, Age 14