HEALTH & WELLNESS
Young adults are vulnerable targets
for the heroin epidemic
Heroin use has reached its highest level in 20
years in the U.S., according to a 2016 World Drug
Report from the United Nations. While this alarming
epidemic takes its toll on people of all ages, young
adults can be a particularly susceptible target.
“The prefrontal cortex is not completely de-
veloped in young people, so they are not yet fully
equipped with the ability to make the right choices
DR. MICHAEL — making it even easier to fall prey to addiction,”
BIZZARRO says Neal Schofield, M.D., chair of the department
of psychiatry at Princeton House Behavioral Health.
“Compounding the problem is the fact that opioid
accessibility has expanded beyond our inner cities to arrive at
our doorsteps. It’s now far easier to obtain these drugs than it is
to get treatment.”
The monetary price of opioids is low, but the ultimate cost is
extremely high. Aside from the risk of overdose and death, the
use of these substances creates a “cerebral diabetic” situation,
according to Schofield.
As Dr. Schofield adds: “Because opioids down-regulate neu-
robiological systems, addiction happens very quickly. We have
an excellent young adult detox and inpatient program, but that
alone may not solve the problem without continued treatment,
particularly when we find that many young patients have un-
derlying psychiatric comorbidities like depression, anxiety and
84
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ NOVEMBER 2017
post-traumatic stress disorder. We need to address those issues
as well.”
My colleague Rose Ravelo, L.C.S.W., director of social work and
case management for Princeton House, notes that education and
discharge planning play a key role in breaking the cycle. Young
people have many misconceptions about drug use. Our goal is to
help them understand that opioid addiction is not a social prob-
lem, but rather a serious, life-threatening medical disorder of the
brain. We try to motivate patients to choose continued treatment
after detox and inpatient care, because it’s critical to recovery.
Aside from the challenge of encouraging them to stay in the
care continuum, young adults often face economic barriers. Rav-
elo and Dr. Schofield are hopeful that the increased government
focus on the heroin epidemic in New Jersey will help expand in-
surance coverage and care access, particularly for this popula-
tion.
In addition to providing safe and comprehensive detox ser-
vices, Princeton House Behavioral Health’s Inpatient Young Adult
Inpatient Program offers medical and psychiatric treatment, ed-
ucation about addiction and its impact, family involvement to
support recovery whenever possible, and referrals to outpatient
services — including those at Princeton House — to encourage
continued treatment.d
To learn more about the program, please call 800.242.2550 or visit
www.princetonhouse.org.