Second study confirm that Record Number of Teens are Abusing Prescription Drug

Second study confirm that Record Number of Teens are Abusing Prescription Drug

First study was published in blog- Scary Study-Teens Look for New Way to Get High (13 Dangerous ways) on Oct 30, 2012.

Scary Study-Teens Look for New Way to Get High (13 Dangerous ways)

This new study is now one more time confirming that Record Number of Teens Abusing Prescription Drugs.

This is happening due to 2 man reasons:

1. Easy availability in parent medicine cabinets
2. Addiction of other drugs

What Is Addiction? What Causes Addiction?

 People with an addiction do not have control over what they are doing, taking or using. Their addiction may reach a point at which it is harmful. Addictions do not only include physical things we consume, such as drugs or alcohol, but may include virtually anything, such abstract things as gambling to seemingly harmless products, such as chocolate - in other words, addiction may refer to a substance dependence (e.g. drug addiction) or behavioral addiction (e.g. gambling addiction).

In the past addiction used to refer just to psychoactive substances that cross the blood-brain barrier, temporarily altering the chemical balance of the brain; this would include alcohol, tobacco and some drugs. A considerable number of psychologists, other health care professionals and lay people now insist that psychological dependency, as may be the case with gambling, sex, internet, work, exercise, etc. should also be counted as addictions, because they can also lead to feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness, despair, failure, rejection, anxiety and/or humiliation. When a person is addicted to something they cannot control how they use it, and become dependent on it to cope with daily life.

How Parents can prevent Prescription Drug abuse by their children by:

Educating children about the dangers of drug abuse

Controlling access to cough and cold medications

Keeping medications out of reach of children

Becoming familiar with and not stockpiling medications

Monitoring child's internet use

Monitoring credit card statements

The investigators say that adolescents, who documented participation in positive activities such as sports, school clubs, and community and church organizations, were less inclined to reporting abusing medications.

What Are the Most Commonly Abused Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs?

Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants (e.g., Xanax, Valium), and stimulants (e.g., Concerta, Adderall) are the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Drugs available without a prescription—also known as over-the-counter drugs—can also be abused. DXM (dextromethorphan), the active cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cough and cold medications, is one example. It is sometimes abused to get high, which requires large doses (more than what is on the package instructions) that can be dangerous.

What Are the Common Street Names?

Prescription drugs have chemical names, brand names you may have heard before, and street names.

Opioids

Chemical Name (Brand Name) Street Names

Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet)

Propoxyphene (Darvon)

Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet)

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

Meperidine (Demerol)

Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)

Morphine (Kadian, Avinza, MS Contin)

Codeine

Fentanyl (Duragesic)

Methadone

Hillbilly heroin, oxy, OC, oxycotton, percs, happy pills, vikes

Depressants

Chemical Name (Brand Name) Street Names

Barbiturates

Mephobarbital (Mebaral)

Sodium pentobarbital (Nembutal)

 

Barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, yellow jackets

Benzodiazepines

Diazepam (Valium)

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Triazolam (Halcion)

Estazolam (ProSom)

Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride (Librium)

 

Candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks

Sleep Medications

Zolpidem (Ambien)

Zaleplon (Sonata)

Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

 

A-minus, zombie pills

Stimulants

Chemical Name (Brand Name)	Street Names
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall) Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)	Skippy, the smart drug, Vitamin R, bennies, black beauties, roses, hearts, speed, uppers

Second Study- Record Number Of Teens Abusing Prescription Drugs, Parents To Blame?

 

Prescription painkillers are currently being abused by teens and young people more than ever before, and the availability of these drugs in their parents' medicine cabinets may be at fault. Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem in the United States. A report from last month indicated that the abuse of prescription drugs is now at an epidemic level, due to the fact that clinicians treat pain differently now than they use to, and a different study from last year demonstrated that prescription drug abuse is associated with people's access to the internet and the increasing number of online pharmacies. The current finding came from research conducted by Richard Miech, Ph.D. of the University of Colorado in Denver, and his colleagues and was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The second most abused drugs by American teens are prescription painkillers, with marijuana being the most common. There are 10 times more adolescents (ages 12 to 17) using prescription painkillers in today's world than there were in the 1960s. I think many parents just don't realize how dangerous unsecured prescription drugs are to their children and their children's friends," explained Miech, The experts examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 1985 to 2009 in order to determine the incidence of recreational painkiller use among all races, age groups, and genders. Analysis showed that painkiller use was 40% greater among adolescents born between 1980 and 1994 than all other age groups born before them. Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics, as well as both males and females, experienced this trend.

 The fact that the trend is present across all racial and ethnic groups [just] highlights that this is a problem that affects everyone," Miech revealed. Since prescription painkillers are becoming more and more available in the medicine cabinets in people's houses, the authors believe that the availability of these drugs is partly to blame for this epidemic. In order to increase parents' knowledge of this situation, more intervention is crucial.

There are many things parents can do so that these drugs are not so accessible to their kids, Ruth Gassman, Ph.D., executive director of the Indiana Prevention Resource Center in the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, said, Ruth explained, “For instance, parents should keep track of the quantity of pills in a bottle and the frequency of refills. If you discover that you have to refill medication more often than anticipated, this may be a sign that someone is taking these medications without your knowledge.

Gassman pointed out that parents need to set rules for their kids to follow, which they need to follow as well. Those rules include: never share medicine and never take a bigger dosage than recommended by a doctor.  Miech concluded, ultimately I think we need to change attitudes toward prescription drugs and, hence, their demand. It's not an easy thing to do, but not doing it looks to be quite costly in terms of lost lives and productivity.

(Source-Journal of Adolescent Health)