Preventing Opioid Misuse among High School Student-Athletes: Playbook for Students

Rest and heal. Don’t rush back to the playing field too soon.

After getting injured, you may want to use prescription pain medication to get back in action as soon as possible. But it’s better to not rely on them. Set a realistic timeline for recovery, and get the right amount of rest. By doing this, you won’t be as tempted to misuse medication and make matters worse.

 More information:

• “Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse Among Student Athletes,” Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services.

• “How to Prevent Opioid Misuse,” Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Know the facts and know the risks about opioid use and misuse.

Consider the consequences of misusing pain meds. Get the facts:

• Opioids | Truth.

• NIDA: Prescription Pain Medications (Opioids)

• The Science of Addiction

• 12 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Taking Opioids

• “Opioids: Just the Facts,” NIDA for Teens.

Use prescribed medications in low doses and in limited quantities.

If you’re prescribed opioid painkillers, make sure you only use them as needed. In other words, don’t keep using the medication if you’re no longer in pain just because you have pills left over. See more info about safe medication use below.

• “How to use opioids safely,” Mayo Clinic.

Don’t share your medications - they were prescribed to you.

Do not share your medication! It was specifically prescribed to you, and you should be the only one taking it. A normal dose for you could be fatal for someone else.
 

• “Don’t Share,” PAStop.org.

• “7 reasons you shouldn't take other people's medicine,” Mother Nature Network.

Properly dispose of opioid medications.

Getting rid of your unused or expired prescription medication greatly reduces the chances they’ll be misused. Check out the resources below about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and proper drug disposal.

• DEA Take Back Day, Drug Enforcement Administration.

• “How to Properly Dispose of Your Unused Medicines,” Drug Enforcement Administration.

• “Quiz: Proper Drug Disposal,” Drug Enforcement Administration.

Prescription medications may not be the only option. Ask about alternative pain therapies or medications.

You should always consider the non-prescription-based ways to treat pain. See more information below.

• “Other Options for Treating Pain,” Drug Enforcement Administration.
   
• “Are There Any Alternatives When A Physician Offers My Child Opioids for Pain?” Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
   
• “Managing Your Pain: Which Approach is Right for You?” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

• “Pain: Considering Complementary Approaches,” U.S. Department of Health Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.