Teens and Prescription Drug Misuse

Teens and Prescription Drug Misuse

By, Julia Brownfield

Prescription drug abuse is when someone takes a medication prescribed for someone else, takes their own prescription in a way not intended by a doctor, or takes a medication to get high. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that causes drug or alcohol seeking use despite it’s harmful effects. It is considered a brain disease thus it causes the brain structure to change how it works. These changes can be long lasting and may lead to harmful, destructive behaviors (NIDA, 2016).

Misuse of prescription medications can lead to abuse and then addiction. Many pharmaceutical medications have the same potential for drug abuse, dependence, and addiction. They share many of the same properties “illegal drugs.” It’s important to note that prescription drug use outside of the medically prescribed indicators is also illegal and constitutes drug abuse and could lead to dependence.

Most people that take prescription medications responsibly, approximately 7 million people or 2.5% of the population (12 years or older). There are 1.9% million persons aged 12 or older that abuse prescription pain relievers (NIDA for Teens). According to a national survey, 17.8% of high school students took a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription (NIDA for Teens).

Most prescription drugs, when used properly for a medical condition under a doctor of dentists supervision, are safe and effective. However, they can have serious side effects if not used correctly. Using prescriptions incorrectly for non-medical reasons can lead to abuse, addiction and even death (SAMHSA, 2011).

What is Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs (SAMHSA, 2013)?

• Taking more than the prescribed dose of a prescription drug.

• Taking a drug prescribed for another person or taking a drug obtained illegally or without a legitimate prescription.

When teens abuse prescription drugs and take them in different amounts or for other reasons than as they are prescribed, they affect the brain and body in ways very similar to illicit drugs. When prescription drugs are abused, they can be addictive and have harmful health effects such as overdose (especially when taken along with other drugs or alcohol). An overdose is when a drug is swallowed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin in excessive amounts and injures the body. Overdoses are either intentional or unintentional. If the person taking or giving a substance did not mean to hurt themselves or others, then it is unintentional (CDC, 2016).

Social Media, Drugs & Teens

Many teens obtain prescription drugs from their family or friends. Teens find prescription drugs and over the counter drugs in their home medicine cabinet or on the kitchen shelf. For persons aged 12 or older who used pain relievers, non-medically in the past year: 53.0 percent got the drug they used most recently from a friend or relative for free. 21.2 percent received them through a prescription from one doctor. 10.6 percent bought the drug from a friend or relative. 4.3 percent got pain relievers from a drug dealer or other stranger, 0.1 percent bought them on the Internet (CDC, 2016)

Since prescription drugs are widely available in the home, teens often do not have to go far to find ways to get high. Other teens turn to the Internet and social media for prescription drugs, and the World Wide Web plays a big role in providing information and advice to teens. Here are a few things to consider 14 15 Internet, Social Media, Drugs & Teens Your teen probably knows a lot more about the Internet than you do. It’s never too late for parents to jump in and get acquainted with various websites, communication methods, networking systems, and the lingo teens use to fly under parents’ radars. Some pharmacies operating on the Internet are legal, and some are not. Some of the legal Internet pharmacies have voluntarily sought certification as “Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites” (VIPPS®) from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. “Rogue” pharmacies pretend to be authentic by operating websites that advertise powerful drugs without a prescription or with the “approval” of a “doctor” working for the drug trafficking network (Lenhart, 2015).

According to Lenhart (2015), 71% of teens use more than one social network site Teens are diversifying their social network site use. A majority of teens – 71% – report using more than one social network site out of the seven platform options they were asked about. Among the 22% of teens who only use one site, 66% use Facebook, 13% use Google+, 13% use Instagram and 3% use Snapchat (Lenhart).

Misconceptions of Street Drugs

Misconceptions “Street drugs” is a term that refers to drugs that are commonly known as illegal drugs – cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and others. Many teens wrongly believe that prescription drugs are safer than “street drugs” for a variety of reasons:

These are medicines. They can be obtained from doctors, dentists, pharmacies, friends g or family members. It is not necessary to buy them from traditional “drug dealers.” Information on the effects of these drugs is widely available in package inserts, advertisements, and on social media sites. Parents and teens need to understand that when over-the-counter and prescribed medications are used to get high, they are every bit as dangerous as “street drugs.” And when prescribed drugs are used by or distributed to individuals without prescriptions, they are every bit as illegal (NIDA, 2103).

Misconceptions | Drug-Impaired Driving Drug-Impaired Driving What is drug-impaired driving? Driving under the influence of over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, or illegal drugs. Why is drug-impaired driving dangerous? Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription drugs affect the brain and can alter perception, mental processes, attention, balance, coordination, reaction time and other abilities required for safe driving. Even small amounts of some drugs can have a serious effect on driving ability (NIDA, 2013).

Signs and Symptoms of Teen Drug Abuse (SAMSHA, 2016 and DEA, 2016)

-Teens are known to have mood swings. However, some behavior may indicate more serious issues, such as abuse of drugs and alcohol. Here are some of the warning signs of drug use. g Problems at school Frequently forgetting homework. Missing classes or skipping school. Disinterest in school or school activities. A drop in grades.

-Physical signs Lack of energy and motivation. Red eyes and cheeks or difficulty focusing – alcohol use. Red eyes and constricted pupils – marijuana use. A strange burn on your child’s mouth or fingers – smoking something (possibly heroin or methamphetamine) through a metal or glass pipe. Chronic nosebleeds – cocaine abuse.

-Neglected appearance Lack of interest in clothing, grooming, or appearance is not normal. Teenagers are usually very concerned about how they look. How Teens Abuse Medicine.

-Changes in behavior Teenagers enjoy privacy but be aware of excessive attempts to be alone. Exaggerated efforts not to allow family members into their rooms. Not letting you know where they go with friends, or whom they go with. Breaking curfew without a good excuse. Changes in relationships with family.

-Changes in friends No longer friends with childhood friends. Seems interested in hanging out with older kids. Acts secretive about spending time with new friends. Money issues or sudden requests for money without a good reason. Money stolen from your wallet or safe places at home. Items gone from your home (May be sold to buy drugs).

-Finding drug paraphernalia items in your child’s room, backpack, or car related to drug use.

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

The DEA plays a critical role in preventing non-medical use and abuse of prescription drugs. DEA investigates physicians who sell prescriptions to drug dealers or who overprescribe drugs; pharmacists who falsify records and then sell the drugs; employees who steal from drug inventory; executives who falsify orders to cover illicit sales; prescription forgers; and persons who commit armed robbery of pharmacies and drug distributors. DEA investigates illegal Internet pharmacies. Rogue pharmacies exist to profit from the sale of controlled prescription medications to buyers who have not seen a doctor and do not have a prescription from a registered physician. The pharmacies lack quality assurance and accountability, and their products pose a danger to buyers. DEA works with state, local, and foreign partners to interdict controlled substances and chemicals used to make drugs. DEA’s authority to enforce laws and regulations comes from the Controlled Substances Act, Title 21 of the United States Code. DEA also provides fact-based timely information to the public about the dangers of illegal drugs and the non-medical use of prescription drugs through publications, websites, and presentations (DEA, 2016). https://www.dea.gov/index.shtml

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2016). Injury Prevention & Control: Prescription Drug Overdose, Understanding the Epidemic. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html

Drug Enforcement Agency. (2016). Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Abuse Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.dea.gov/pr/multimedia-library/publications/DEA_Prescription-For-Disaster_508ver.pdf

Lenhart, Amanda. (2015). Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from: http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015//

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (Oct. 2016.) The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction: The Basics Retrieved from: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/science-drug-abuse-addiction-basics

National Institue on Drug Abuse for Teens Website. (2013). Drug Facts Prescription Drugs. Retrieved from: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-drugs

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA ). (2011). Drug Abuse Warning Network. Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DAWN2k11ED/DAWN2k11ED/DAWN2k11ED.pdf

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2013). National Estimates of Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits. Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/emergency-department-data-dawn

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). (2016). Warming Signs and Risk Factors of Teen Substance Abuse. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/warning-signs-risk-factors

Posted by, Julia Brownfield, ESAP Coalition Alcohol Committee Chair