PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE Part 2

LEARNING GOALS  I will be able to identify the pitfalls of prescription drug use.  I will be able to use the information attained to make informed and safe choices.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE  When someone takes a medication that was prescribed for someone else,  OR  Takes their own prescription in a way not intended by a doctor or for a different reason—like to get high.

 When prescription drugs are taken as directed, they are usually safe.  It requires a trained health care clinician, such as a doctor or nurse, to determine if the benefits of taking the medication outweigh any risks for side effects.  But when abused and taken in different amounts or for different purposes than as prescribed, they affect the brain and body in ways very similar to illicit drugs.

 Video 1 Video 1  Video 2 Video 2  Video 3 Video 3

THE NUMBERS …

 After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused substances by kids age 14 and older.  Teens abuse prescription drugs for a number of reasons, such as to get high, to stop pain, or because they think it will help them with school work.  Most teens get prescription drugs they abuse from friends and relatives, sometimes without the person knowing.  Boys and girls tend to abuse some types of prescription drugs for different reasons.  For example, boys are more likely to abuse prescription stimulants to get high, while girls tend to abuse them to stay alert or to lose weight.

 When prescription drugs are abused, they can be addictive and put the person at risk for other harmful health effects, such as overdose (especially when taken along with other drugs or alcohol).  And, abusing prescription drugs is illegal—and that includes sharing prescriptions with family members or friends.

 There are three kinds of prescription drugs that are commonly abuse:  Opioids  Stimulants  Depressants

OPIOIDS  Painkillers like Vicodin, OxyContin, or codeine  Medication commonly known as prescription painkillers  Repeated use can lead to addiction  Taking a large single dose can cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death

STIMULANTS  Such as medications that treat Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)  Repeated use of some stimulants over a short period can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia  High doses may result in a dangerously high temperature and an irregular heartbeat  Potential for heart failure or seizures  Combining stimulants and over-the-counter cold medicines with decongestants may cause dangerously high blood pressure and an irregular heart rhythm

DEPRESSANTS  Such as anti-anxiety and sleep-disorder medications  Valium or Xanax  Slowed brain activity can result in sleepiness and lack of coordination during first days of taking depressants  Continued use can lead to dependence  Use with alcohol can be fatal

MYTH BUSTING 1. Teen prescription drug abuse is uncommon. 2. Because prescription drugs are legal, they are a safer way to get high. 3. It is difficult to access prescription medications in order to get high. 4. It’s okay to misuse or abuse a prescription medication once in a while. 5. Unlike underage binge drinking and marijuana use, misusing and sharing prescription medications is legal. 6. Students often get prescription medications from drug dealers on the street.

MYTH: TEEN PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IS UNCOMMON.  Fact: The abuse of prescription medications among youth ages 12 to 17 is widespread. After marijuana, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused drugs among young people.

MYTH: BECAUSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE LEGAL, THEY ARE A SAFER WAY TO GET HIGH.  Fact: Prescription drugs should only be taken for legitimate medical reasons, by the person they were prescribed for, and at the proper dosage instructed by the doctor. When abused, prescription drugs can be as dangerous as taking illegal drugs like heroin or cocaine.

MYTH: IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS IN ORDER TO GET HIGH.  Fact: Accessing prescription medications can be as easy as going into a parent’s or family member’s medicine cabinet, drawer, or cupboard. Some teens get them from friends. For many young people, accessing prescription drugs can be free or inexpensive.

MYTH: IT’S OKAY TO MISUSE OR ABUSE A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION ONCE IN A WHILE.  Fact: It is never safe to misuse or abuse a prescription medication. Any time a prescription drug is taken improperly, for the purpose of getting high or for any other reason, it is dangerous and illegal. Abusing a prescription drug even just one time can lead to serious health consequences—even death.

MYTH: UNLIKE UNDERAGE BINGE DRINKING AND MARIJUANA USE, MISUSING AND SHARING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS IS LEGAL.  Fact: Many students may not realize that they are doing anything wrong if they pop a friend’s Percocet to relieve a headache or take Adderall to cram for exams all night. But using these medications, many of which are considered controlled substances, without a doctor’s prescription or misusing someone else’s prescription is always harmful, not to mention illegal. Only a doctor or pharmacist can legally give you these medications.

MYTH: STUDENTS OFTEN GET PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS FROM DRUG DEALERS ON THE STREET.  Fact: Most students don’t need to look any further than their friends, classmates and family. That’s because many of the most abused prescription medications are widely prescribed for legitimate medical conditions are, therefore, readily available. A majority (90%) of students are able to access stimulants from their peers or friends (McCabe et al, 2004). Of undergraduates that are taking stimulant medication under the direction of their doctor, more than half (54%) have been asked to sell, trade or give away their medication in the past year (McCabe et al, 2006).

3 R’S FOR SAFE MEDICINE USE  Respect the power of medicine and use it properly.  Recognize that all medicines, including prescription drugs, have risks along with benefits. The risks tend to increase dramatically when medicines are abused.  Take responsibility for learning how to take prescription drugs safely and appropriately. Seek help at the first sign of your own or a friend’s problem. Contact or visit your college health center if you have questions or need advice.

LEARNING GOALS  I will be able to identify the pitfalls of prescription drug use.  I will be able to use the information attained to make informed and safe choices.