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Talking to Your Young Adult Child About Opioid Use Disorder

If you’re the parent of a young adult, you already know the dynamic has shifted. They’re making their own decisions, living their own lives and the days of sitting them down for a simple talk feel long gone. But when it comes to opioid use disorder (OUD), the conversation still matters deeply, and you still have more influence than you might think.

Talking openly with your young adult child about opioids isn’t about lecturing or controlling. It’s about connection, honesty, and making sure the person you love has the information they need to stay safe.

Why This Conversation Can’t Wait

Opioid misuse is especially prevalent among older adolescents and young adults aged 18 to 25, and family involvement in treatment is crucial to a successful recovery. Family members can play an important role in motivating a young adult to enter and remain in a treatment program. 

Young adults face unique pressures, college stress, early career uncertainty, social environments where substance use may be normalized, that can increase vulnerability. Young people may turn to opioids out of curiosity, peer pressure, or to manage depression, anxiety, or stress. And prescription pain medications can be surprisingly accessible, about half of people who misuse prescription opioids report getting them from a friend or family member’s prescription.

The good news: your voice still carries weight. SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign is built on the evidence that parents remain one of the strongest protective influences in a young person’s life, even into adulthood.

Know the Warning Signs

Before you can have the conversation, it helps to know what to look for. Physical warning signs of opioid use can include small pupils, decreased respiratory rate, drowsiness, unexplained weight changes, and intense flu-like symptoms. 

Behavioral signs may include withdrawal from regular activities, low motivation, and mood shifts that range from depression and anxiety to sudden euphoria. 

Clinically, opioid use disorder is characterized by patterns like taking larger amounts than intended, persistent unsuccessful efforts to cut back, spending significant time obtaining or recovering from opioids, and continued use despite problems at work, school, or in relationships.

If you notice these signs, trust your instincts. You know your child.

Tips for Having the Conversation

Talking to a young adult requires a different approach than talking to a child. Here are some practical ways to navigate it:

Start casual, not confrontational. A great way to begin is to keep it low-key — use a news story or recent event as a natural entry point. It doesn’t have to feel like a formal intervention or emotionally charged confrontation.

Choose the right moment. Choose the right time to talk, making sure they haven’t recently used. Begin by expressing your concerns without accusations, and be specific — explain what you observed that raised your concern. 

Listen more than you talk. Once the conversation starts, the most effective thing you can do is listen. Allow them to share their experience and try to understand their perspective. Avoid the urge to immediately offer solutions, just be present and hear them out. 

Use person-first language. The words we use matter. Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing, and stigmatizing language can make someone feel ashamed and less likely to seek help. Say “person with an opioid use disorder” rather than “addict.” Say “in recovery” rather than “clean.”

Stay calm if they push back. Be prepared for strong reactions, and stay calm. Reinforce how much you care for them — that message matters more than winning the argument.

If a Family Member Has OUD

If your young adult child is asking about a parent, sibling, or other loved one who is struggling with OUD, be honest and age-appropriate. Reassure them that addiction is a medical condition, not a choice or a reflection of how much that person loves them. Encourage them to express their feelings, and let them know it’s okay to feel confused, scared, or even angry.

This is also a good time to make sure they know OUD is treatable. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are evidence-based, safe, and effective, reducing illicit opioid use by up to 90% in people who receive treatment.Hope and recovery are real.

You don’t have to have all the answers before starting the conversation. What your young adult needs most is to know you’re a safe person to come to, and that you’ll still be there, no matter what.

Authored by Dominic Pachuilo, Director of Product at the PSBLTY Co.

I build the products and internal systems that enable financial advisors to move upmarket and grow into the firms they’re capable of becoming. This work sits at the intersection of product, strategy, and execution. I help turn ideas into operational reality, translating vision into tools, frameworks, and experiences that advisors and their teams use every day. The goal isn’t just growth. It’s helping firms evolve into something more intentional, more differentiated, and more aligned with who they are.

My background spans product development, learning experience design, and operational architecture. I’ve led the creation of scalable programs, internal systems, and client-facing products used by advisors and mission-driven organizations across the country. I’m drawn to work that compounds over time—building things that continue creating value long after they’re launched. Outside of work, my wife and I spend our weekends running Arizona trails, roasting coffee, and sharing long conversations with people we love. Those rhythms keep me grounded and remind me why the work matters.

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