Adolescent Prescription drug abuse
Adolescent Prescription drug abuse
There are many different ways that adolescents are using to get high these days. Marijuana and alcohol are among the most common. However, more and more adolescents are turning to prescription medication abuse. 48 million or 20% of the United States population have used prescription medications for reasons other than medical in their lifetime. Since 1995 emergency room visits resulting from prescription medication abuse have gone up 163% and so are visits to adolescent drug rehabs Prescription medications are easier to obtain now more than ever. Some teens are simply stealing their parent’s prescriptions out of the medicine cabinet. More often teens are visiting online pharmacies, where they sell very addictive medications to anyone who will pay. Teens also will trade their prescriptions at school, either for other drugs or for money. Prescription medication can be classified in one of three categories that are the most commonly abused: stimulants, opioids and central nervous system depressants.
Opioids include Morphine, Vicodin and Oxycontin, to name a few. Opioids are used to treat pain. When abused these medications can be life threatening. If opioids are mixed with any substance that depressed the central nervous system, such as alcohol, Xanax, or Valium, they can cause respiratory malfunction and death. These drugs are occasionally snorted or injected, in order to amplify the high.
Central nervous system depressants, such as Xanax or Valium, are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Barbiturates are also considered central nervous system depressants. These medications work by slowing down brain activity, which when abused or used with alcohol they can slow the activity down so much that it results in heart or respiratory malfunction and death.
Stimulants speed up the body causing increased attentiveness, alertness and energy. Stimulants were primarily used to treat asthma and obesity. Currently they are used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, Depression and narcolepsy. Abusing these medications or mixing them with decongestants may result in irregular heart activity and high body temperatures.
Labels: Adolescent-Drug-Rehab, aolescent-prescription-abuse, Morhine, Oxycontin, valium, vicodin, xanax
9 Comments:
Drugs are being prescribed to teens too leniently these days! These addictions spread on high school and college campuses like a wild fire.
IT IS SO POPULAR NOW A DAY FOR KIDS TO SELL THEIR ADDERALL. IT HAS BECOME THE STEROID OF COLLEGE ACADEMICS. ADDERALL IS SO COMMONLY PRESCRIBED THAT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY CHILD IN AMERICA CAN CLAIM THEY HAVE ADD.
Another huge issue with prescription drug abuse is that many people think that since prescription drugs come from a doctor that they are safer than street drugs which is totally not true!
i find this very upsetting.
it is really sad that these doctors dont care or understand addiction. i had to to the the hospital and the doctor was trying to prescribe me vicodin, or "the good stuff" as he called.
It is sad that doctors don't understand drug addiction. Especially since it is so prevalent in the community. You wouldn't believe the number of kids that I talk to everyday that steal their prescriptions from their parents. Parents need to get a lock box and hide the key.
this is becoming all to fimiliar in the the american household. it is easier for adolescents to get loaded at home these days!
this is becoming all to fimiliar in the the american household. it is easier for adolescents to get loaded at home these days!
I know too many people who will take their families or friends prescription drugs just like they were OTC
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