introduction

According to a recent Gallup poll, the use and temptation of drugs is the leading problem that American teenagers and young adults face. One in twelve Americans over the age of 12 admits that they currently use illicit drugs. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in five teenagers admits to using prescription drugs to get high, and one in ten teenagers admits to using over the counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines to get high. Nearly two-thirds of teens report that prescription pain relievers are easy to find at home, in the medicine cabinet. Healthy People 2010 shows that 30% of all deaths in the United States are premature because of psychoactive substances. The leading causes of death in Americans between the ages of 15 and 24 are accidents, suicides, and homicides…in many cases directly because of drug use. Almost all drug use begins in the teenage years where conflict, pressure, temptation, curiosity, and drug availability are all increasingly present. However, regardless of age, class, gender, or religion, all groups are susceptible to fall victim to the appeal and effects of psychoactive drugs.
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how does prescription drug addiction occur?

Narcotics, or painkillers, are drugs commonly prescribed to patients to alleviate intense pain and suffering. Morphine, an opiate, is one of the most commonly prescribed narcotics. However, opium is also present in the street drug heroin and creates hallucinogenic changes in mood and feeling. Natural pain remedies such as the coca leaf has a modern derivative in the street drug cocaine, which has become increasingly abused in the past 20 years. Cocaine acts as a central nervous system stimulant (creating “highs” because of nervous system overactivity) and as an appetite suppressant. It becomes easier to understand the addictive effects of prescription drugs when their relationship to illicit drugs is explained. Patients who take prescription drugs for pain and post-operative management sometimes find themselves addicted to the pleasant effects of the drug (mood change, increased sensation, alleviation of depression) and continue administration of the drug long after the intended result of the drug is achieved.
(Sanberg, Paul, Ph.D. and Michael Bunsey. "Prescription Narcotics: The Addictive Painkillers." Chelsea House Publishers: 1986.)

The goals of this blog are to:
.educate readers about the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse
.explain the appeal, availability, and dangers of abuse, specifically among teens, and discuss treatment
.supply parents with prescription and OTC drug abuse warning signs and stress the importance of communicating with teens
.provide a variety of sources and information so readers can further their knowledge of this increasingly-present and often-overlooked form of substance abuse

Saturday, March 21, 2009

cnn health: teens are age group most at risk for abuse of and addiction to prescription drugs

According to an article posted on CNN Health, the age group of the most concern when it comes to the abuse and chance for addiction to prescription drugs is teens. Another risk factor is the lack of preventative measures. Those using drugs for an intended purpose need to be educated on how to store them, like in a locked cabinet, and how to spot early signs of addiction in themselves or those around them that could have access to the drugs. Many experts on the subject feel that if preventative measures are not aggressively implemented, that by the next year, the amount of teens abusing could double if the current rate of abuse continues.

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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 23, 2009 at 3:27 PM

    A definitely reason why teens are at the highest risk for addiction is because of self-consciousness. They're going through a time in which they're trying to figure out who they really are and what they want to do in life. Many teenagers feel like no one understands what they're going through, and so the euphoria that may arise from taking prescription drugs causes them to want more and more especially when they don't need it, unfortunately leading to addiction.

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  2. AnonymousMarch 24, 2009 at 3:42 PM

    I love the picture for this post--it really speaks a thousand words. A teenager using prescription drugs from the home medicine cabinet. Something needs to be done.

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  3. RosemarieMarch 25, 2009 at 3:33 PM

    I feel one reason why teenagers abuse prescription drugs is that they are very easy to get. The one thing a parent feels it that he/she can trust there child and feel my child would not take my pain medication. Teenagers have no idea what they are taking and what are side effects are. Most of the time parents take notice is when it too late.

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  4. AnonymousMarch 26, 2009 at 2:05 PM

    yes something does need to be done BO i agree. How can parents be so unconcerned. Everyone knows teens are sneaky, why not get a lock on the medicine cabinet... a simple step that can prevent many future issues.

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  5. AnonymousMarch 26, 2009 at 2:07 PM

    that is a simple step and parents should think about it this way: Protecting your children!
    Why would you even want to take the chance that you child could get hooked on drugs and spend the rest of their life struggling not to relapse. I watch that show sober house on vh1 and what those addicts go through on a daily basis is scary.

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  6. AnonymousMarch 27, 2009 at 12:16 AM

    very thought provoking. i think that the information is presented very well. it is scary to see the reality of drug addiction, but you all presented it accurately.

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