Aaron* seemed like an ordinary Eastside high-school student. He came from a wealthy family and appeared to be getting everything right: he had a large group of friends, maintained good grades and participated in extracurricular activities. But behind the scenes, he was suffering from depression, and had turned to drugs like heroin as an escape. Fortunately, Aaron turned to the Youth Eastside Services (YES) counselor who worked on-site at his school for support. Sadly, some teens conceal their problem — sometimes with tragic consequences.

According to recently released data from King County, heroin and opioid use are at crisis levels — and young adults are the largest growing group seeking opiate detox. Deaths from heroin overdose have tripled.

Why are opioids so dangerous? First, they’re very addictive. After even a short period of use, the body develops a tolerance to opioids, so the user needs more to get high. If the user stops, they’ll experience powerful withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, abdominal pain and shaking. Second, opioids have high rates of fatal overdose. It’s easy to overdose on opioids, especially if the user stops and then starts again. This is because the body’s tolerance decreases, so it can’t handle the same amount as before.

Some teens show signs of substance abuse, such as changes in sleep, mood, hygiene or eating habits; withdrawal from usual activities; changes in relationships with family or friends; weight loss or gain; or increased drowsiness. Others are able to hide it quite well.

If you know or suspect that a teen is using, it’s critical that you:

• Talk with them frankly about their use. Highlight your concern and the immediate, life-threatening dangers of using: Fatal overdoses are common, and you don’t have to be an addict to experience negative consequences. Emphasize that it is never safe to use opiates except as prescribed by a physician. Make sure they know that they could die by combining an opioid with alcohol or other drugs, and tell them to never use alone. Practice attentive listening without judgment, and offer to support them in seeking help.

• Actively assist them in getting treatment. A comprehensive assessment can help determine the best course of action: detox, inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. YES offers comprehensive assessments, and also works closely with many schools in the Lake Washington and Bellevue school districts to provide on-site substance abuse prevention and brief counseling. We also connect students requiring more intensive treatment to one of our three Eastside office locations or other resources. No matter where on the Eastside you live, you can call YES at (425) 747-4937 to learn more about what substance abuse treatment services are offered in your area.

• Alert school authorities, parents or guardians, or the police to the teen’s use. It’s better to save a life than to worry about getting someone in trouble.

• Call 9-1-1 immediately in the case of an overdose — do not take any chances. Under Washington state’s Good Samaritan law, if you think someone is overdosing and seek medical help for them, neither of you will be charged for possessing or using a small amount of drugs.

• Get Naloxone, which is an overdose “antidote.” It’s available without a prescription from some pharmacies. Visit stopoverdose.org to learn where.

One of the most important ways that we can all help address this public health crisis is by playing an active role in identifying and addressing opioid use, as well as educating people — especially younger users — on the dangers of using. Through awareness, intervention and prevention, our community can overcome this.

Patti Skelton-McGougan is the executive director of YES, a nonprofit organization and a leading provider of youth and family mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and education and prevention services in East King County. Since 1968, YES has been a lifeline for youth and families struggling to overcome depression, substance abuse, trauma and more. Visit YouthEastsideServices.org or call (425) 747-4937 to learn more.

*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.