April 2021 – Page 2 – Costco Benefits

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APRIL 2021

How to talk to your kids about prescription drug misuse

by Colin Groundwater

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Until recently, the term “drug use” typically referred to illegal substances like cocaine, heroin or crystal meth. Today’s teens are more likely to get hooked on prescription medication, especially painkillers. Opioids are a class of highly effective pain relievers that includes oxycodone (brand names: OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (brand name: Vicodin) and fentanyl. Teens most often receive opioid prescriptions after dental procedures ― like wisdom tooth removal ― and sports injuries.

But prescription opioids have downsides that make them prone to misuse. They can produce feelings of euphoria, like their chemical cousins heroin and morphine. And their effectiveness fades quickly. Within months, a patient can be taking dangerously high doses to feel the same relief.

If your child is prescribed opioids for pain relief after an injury or surgery, it’s important to be aware of the facts and to take an active role in their recovery. Here’s how you can help:

Talk frankly with your child’s doctor, dentist and pharmacist

No parent wants to see their child in pain. To ensure yours receives the proper aftercare, get the facts from your health care provider. Ask about the standard recovery time for your son’s or daughter’s procedure, how much medication is necessary, and when your teen should stop taking the pills.

Know the options for pain relief

Opioid  painkillers  are rarely necessary after wisdom tooth removal, according  to Dave Thomas, PhD, a health scientist administrator at the  National Institute on Drug Abuse. ‘‘NSAIDs work as well or better in those situations,” he says. The American Dental Association also recommends simple NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, as the first line of pain therapy after dental procedures. (Exparel is a pain-management medication that’s an alternative to opiates. Through Costco’s Aetna Dental Plan, you can receive this medication at no cost to you. Talk  to your dentist to see if it’s right for your teen’s procedure.)
Alternative pain-management techniques can boost the effectiveness of over-the-counter drugs, especially in young people. Options include ice packs, distraction (video games, TV), massage, mindfulness and even old-fashioned TLC.

Talk with your kids

Getting through to teens isn’t always easy. Pick a time when you’re both relaxed and focused. Go in with some talking points to anchor the conversation. For example:

Calmly explain the dangers. Many teens assume that drugs that are prescribed by a doctor and come from a pharmacy must be safe. But opioids pose special risks. The difference between the prescribed dose and an overdose can be very small. (Even with opioids prescribed by a trusted doctor, there’s always a risk of dependency.) Opioids also seriously impair your ability to drive. And it’s hard for doctors and patients to know when regular use switches to addiction ― until you try to quit. “That is when they realize they have a problem,” says Lynne Kain, an Aetna case manager who counsels young drug users. “They had never tried to stop before and thought it was just ‘recreational’ use up to that point.”
Urge them not to share medication. Dosage is highly individual: What’s safe for one person can be dangerous for another. And opioids can be deadly when mixed with other common medications, such as anti-anxiety and insomnia drugs.
Use your own words, not clichés. “I feel that catch phrases like ‘Just say no’ are outdated with the teen population of today,” says Kain. “Concrete facts and examples resonate more and show you are respecting their intelligence.”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers excellent guidance on how to have difficult conversations with your teen, including videos showing positive and negative approaches.

Maintain control of your child’s painkillers

Even responsible  teens or those managing their medication for other conditions should not be allowed to control their painkillers.  “Parents should closely supervise opioid use, keeping the bottle in their possession at all times and giving the medication only as needed,” says Harold Paz, MD, chief medical officer at Aetna®. Store pills in a safe place where they aren’t readily accessible, like a lock box or  a lockable drawer.

Source: “How to talk to your kids about prescription drug abuse,” Aetna

HEALTHY RECIPE

JULY 2021

Kale Breakfast Egg Cups

Ingredients: 10

Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 25-30 mins

Makes: 12 servings

Calories: 146 cal

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion finely chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

8 ounces mushrooms thinly sliced

1/2 pound hot or sweet chicken sausage

3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes finely chopped

2 cups chopped kale

8 ounces feta cheese crumbled

Cooking spray

1 1/2 cups egg substitute or 6 eggs

Directions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Add olive oil, then sauté onion for 4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté one additional minute.
Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Then add chicken sausage, and cook 6 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. Break the sausage up into small pieces. Add sun-dried tomatoes and incorporate fully.
Add kale and cook about 2 minutes, until it wilts slightly.
Turn off heat then stir in feta
Spray 12-cup muffin pan, and then add ingredients evenly to each muffin cup.
Pour equal amount of egg into each muffin cup, filling to just below rim.
Bake until the eggs have set, about 25-30 minutes.

Recipe Notes: Can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Also can be frozen. Wrap each egg cup individually in plastic wrap and then tin foil and freeze. To reheat, reheat in a toaster oven or microwave for about 30-45 seconds.

Nutrition

Recipe Source: TasteandSee.co m