Welcome to Maternal & Child Health’s
Adolescent Health website.
While adolescents are generally healthy, substance abuse and other risky
behaviors can be common problems. These health issues can have long-term
effects. Follow these links to learn more:
What’s New
Important
Numbers
Positive Youth
Development
For Health Care
Providers
Related Sites
Parents
Resources
Teens
Texas Healthy
Adolescent Initiative
Sexual Violence
Prevention
Monthly Topic:
Prescription opioid painkiller misuse is a big problem
in the great State of Texas. Each day, 115 Americans die of opioid overdoses.
In Texas, there were 1,375 opioid-related deaths reported in 2016. Of the
top 25 cities for opioid misuse, four are in Texas – Texarkana,
Amarillo, Odessa and Longview. The American
Enterprise Institute research shows non-fatal
overdoses cost the state $20 billion a year. Texas’ Maternal Mortality and
Morbidity Task Force has found that prescription drug overdose is a leading
cause of maternal deaths.
Education about the dangers of misusing prescription
opioids remains VITAL. It impacts
the health and safety of all Texans.
Recognizing this
need, the Office of the Texas Attorney General,
the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and the Texas Department of
State Health Services launched Dose
of Reality. This new
comprehensive website informs Texans about the dangers of misusing prescription
painkillers. It provides resources to Texans about the dangers of misusing
prescription painkillers.
The Dose of Reality website provides one location for opioid-related resources that will
help:
- Individuals,
- Students,
- Parents,
- Patients,
- Health care providers,
- Teachers,
- Senior adults,
- Veterans,
- Businesses, and
- Others.
This website
offers quick and easy access to critical information. Resources include
downloadable fact sheets, posters, brochures, printable talking points, and
more.
The new website
includes details on approaches to:
- Prevent opioid misuse and addiction,
- Use proper pain management,
- Safely store prescription painkillers, and
- Guidelines on responding to an opioid overdose.
A primary feature
of the website is the statewide “Drug Take Back Locator Map”. It lists the locations
that accept prescription opioids for safe disposal year-round.
If your organization or company offers a year-round drug take back service,
get on the locator map. Please contact the Office of the Attorney General at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/contact-us or call (512)
463-2100.
Visit the new Dose
of Reality website at www.DoseofReality.Texas.gov.
For more information, please contact the Office of the Texas Attorney
General at: www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/contact-us
MCH believes that
youth and family input is vital to program success in the community. Please
send questions or comments to us!
For more
information, please contact us at:
Texas Department of State Health Services
Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
(512) 776-7373: Phone
(512) 458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov
External links
to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement
of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These external links may not
be accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information about Maternal
and Child Health or information regarding adolescent health in Texas, please
email TitleV@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7373.