Could Teens' Misuse Of Opioid Painkillers Be Linked To Dating Violence?

Teenagers that misuse prescription medications are more likely to suffer from dating-related violence, new research published on Monday suggests. In a nationwide survey published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined more than 10,000 teenagers that had dated in the past year.

This study is the first to publish data that is nationally representative of the connection between two types of dating violence victimization (DVV), being physical and sexual abuse, and the non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) among high schoolers.

"We know that youth who experience dating violence are more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as using tobacco, drugs and drinking alcohol, be involved in antisocial behavior and thinking about suicide," lead researcher Heather Clayton said, according to Health Day. "The associations are likely complex and reflective of the many challenges faced by already at-risk populations."

The study evaluated responses from more than 5,100 boys and 5,300 girls between grades 9 through 12. Only 68.6 percent of participants claimed they had been dating in last 12 months.

Researchers determined that adolescent boys who used prescription drugs, like opioids, for recreational purposes instead of medicinal purposes resulted in sexual dating misconduct. Male students were more likely to not experience physical or sexual DVV. The group was also more likely than female students to use prescription drugs that weren't designated for medical use.

The research team said it recognized that the study had limitations. The degree to which the overreporting or underreporting of behaviors had occurred could not be fully determined because all the information provided was self-reported. The data also was not representative of all teenagers within the age demographic.

"Although the mechanisms behind the associations we observed are likely complex and temporality cannot be determined from our data, it is important to consider addressing substance use broadly to include NMUPD in preventive interventions for teen-aged DV," the study reads. "Community or school-based adolescent violence and substance use prevention efforts...would be enhanced by considering the association between DVV and substance use."

Nearly 119.0 million Americans in 2015 aged 12 or older used prescription medications more than cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or cigars. This accounts for 44.5 percent of the population. Misusing this type of drug comes in second to marijuana usage.

Oxycontin, Adderall and Xanax are among the most commonly abused prescription drugs. The U.S., however, is responsible for consuming more than 80 percent of opioids prescribed globally.