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One of the latest substance abuse trends
among teens is prescription drug abuse. The Partnership for a
Drug Free America (PDFA) has coined the description “Generation
Rx.” Teens think that prescriptions are safe because they have
legitimate uses, but “taking them without a prescription to get
high or ‘self-medicate’ can be as dangerous – and addictive – as
using street narcotics and other illicit drugs” says the PDFA
Web site (www.drugfree.org)
For many teens, all it takes is a walk to the parents’ medicine
cabinet or a visit to a website offering non-prescription drugs
through the mail. It is illegal to import a controlled substance
from a foreign country. Usually drugs sold over the Internet
without a prescription originate outside the U.S. says the U.S.
Department of Drug Enforcement Administration
(www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/consumer_alert.htm).
“The ease of obtaining substances which can
be abused makes it all the more important that the use of
substances is not dismissed,” notes George Sweat, secretary of
North Carolina’s Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (www.ncdjjdp.org).
Sweat is a member of the Governor’s Crime Commission (www.gcc.state.nc.us).
“Everyday we see youth in our juvenile justice system who are
grappling with substance abuse problems. The use of them is
often reflective of other issues in their lives,” Sweat adds.
Reprinted from the PDFA website.
[1] Conducted by Roper Public Affairs and
Media for the Partnership. Survey of adolescents in grades 7
through 12. Total sample: 7,314 teenagers nationwide.
[2] For example, the data indicate teens who have abused
Ritalin® and/or Adderall® are seven times more likely than
average teens to have used Ecstasy and four times more likely to
have smoked marijuana. The data show similar patterns with teens
who have abused Vicodin®, OxyContin® and cough medicine.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)
 What are the signs and symptoms that young
people may be abusing or mis-using prescription drugs?
Abuse of prescription drugs like all substance abuse problems
create some observable warning signs in young people
• Withdrawal, depression, tiredness, lack
of personal grooming
• Hostility, frequent curfew violations,
lack of cooperation
• Deteriorating relationships with family members
• Hanging around with a new group of friends
• Slipping grades, missed school
• Lack of interest in hobbies, sports, other favorite activities
• Change in eating and sleeping patterns
• Difficulty with concentration
• Disappearance of household money
• Paraphernalia: pipes, rolling papers, small medicine bottles,
eye drops, butane lighters, homemade pipes or bongs (pipes that
use water as a filter) made from soda cans or plastic beverage
containers.
Which prescription drugs are the most
popular?
According to the PDFA, there are three
categories of prescription drugs being mis-used: pain
medications, amphetamines and sedatives (sedative-hypnotics and
tranquilizers). A partial listing follows:
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Pain medications: |
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Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan,
Darvon, Darvocet, Dilaudid, Tylox, Lortab, Lorcet, Codeine |
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|
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Amphetamines: |
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Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Focalin, Dexedrine and Meridia. |
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|
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Sedatives: |
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Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Ambien, Lunesta,
Mebaral, Nembutal, Librium. |
How are kids using them?
Some teens swallow the pills or drink the
liquids says the PDFA. Others may crush pills before snorting or
smoking the powder. Some melt or dissolve medications and then
inject them. Another popular way is to mix the prescription drug
with alcohol or street drugs and make a “cocktail.”
Where do they get them?
Medicine cabinets, kitchen cabinets, bureau
tops or purses – anywhere in the home that parents and other
family members have stored their prescription medicines. Some
young people have found non-prescription pharmacies on the
Internet that will send drugs to their home. Youth Radio recently reported activities at UNC Chapel Hill
where some students “fake” illness to get an Adderall
prescription and then sell the pills for $5 each. At Forsyth
County high schools, the students sell Adderall for a $1 a pill.
How can I prevent and protect?
Do an inventory of the drugs you have
stored in the home and monitor pill quantities and medicine
levels in your prescription containers. Put the drugs away where
you can get to them for your current medical needs
–a place where your child is
unlikely to look. Get rid of leftover drugs and urge your
friends – especially parents of your children’s friends to do
the same. Review credit card bills to note charges that may have
been made to an on-line pharmacy.
What damage can they do?
Mis-used pain relievers, amphetamines and
sedatives are addictive, and may be life threatening –
especially when they are mixed with other drugs. They can cause
a wide range of withdrawal problems:
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Sudden withdrawal from pain relievers can
cause intense restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia,
diarrhea, vomiting and cold flashes.
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High doses of amphetamines over a short time can lead to
feelings of hostility, intense fear and paranoia. High doses may
result in dangerously high body temperature and irregular
heartbeat with possible cardiovascular failure or seizures.
Incorrect usage can result in insomnia, digestive problems and
erratic weight change.
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When sedatives are reduced or stopped, seizures and other
withdrawal symptoms can follow.
(Source:
Getting High on Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
is Dangerous: A Guide to keeping your teenager safe in a
changing world, Partnership for a Drug Free America)
What do I do or say if I suspect mis-use?
Have a discussion with your child when you
are calm and rational. Express your love and concern and tell
your child of signs of drug misuse that you have observed. Avoid
direct accusations but be open about your suspicions. Listen!
Consider everything your child has to say. If you need help
getting this conversation started involve another family member,
a guidance counselor, or a physician says the PDFA.
The Next
Step
Editor: Leanne
Murray
Writer: Rose Walsh
Designer: Virginia Hart
Partnership for a Drug-Free
NC
665 W. Fourth Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
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