Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse

One only needs to walk to their medicine cabinet and you can find a treasure trove of potentially abusive drugs if not used as directed. These medications include prescription and over-the-counter drugs (OTC). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 percent of high school students had taken the following prescription medications: Oxycotin, Percocet, Vicodin, Adderall, Xanax, and Ritalin. OTC medicines are harder to pinpoint because these medications are usually in large amounts and escape a watchful eye.

Adolescents believe these medications are safer than street drugs because they are prescribed by doctors and do not involve a drug dealer. Teens also believe that they must be non-addictive since a health care provider prescribed the medication. Likewise, OTC medications must be safe since they are offered to the general public. Kids view these drugs as stress and anxiety relieving, alertness increasing and as a vehicle for social acceptance. Given the fact that these drugs are free (the parents have purchased the medications), easily obtainable, and without legal repercussions if caught by your folks, teenagers have the perfect storm for abuse and addiction.

Here are some facts regarding this cryptic abuse from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

1. In 2010, 12 million Americans ages 12 and up took prescription pain killers for non-medical purposes.
2. One in five teens use prescription drugs inappropriately.
3. One in three teens state, “there is nothing wrong with using prescription drugs.” This is a very dangerous assumption that can lead to death.
4. One in three teens reports knowing a teen who misuses or abuses prescription drugs.
5. Every day 2,500 youths misuse a prescription drug for the first time.
6. In 2006, more than 3 million youth in the U.S. aged 12-25 used OTC cough medicine and cold medications for non-medical reasons.

Prescription and OTC medications are the second most popular drugs used by teens. Marijuana is the most popular drug used. In 12-13 year olds, prescription drugs are the drug of choice with more girls using the medicine cabinet pick-me-ups than boys. The term “pharm party” describes a social gathering, in which, kids bring pills from home and place them in a large bowl. This bowl is passed around for party goers to indulge in the pharmaceutical smorgasbord without even knowing what they are taking. Apparently, some of the fun comes out of watching the affect the pill of unknown origin has upon the subject. Many pills can be taken simultaneously and with alcohol. This is a recipe for disaster. Adolescents use more prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and meth combined. SAMHSA reports that 20 percent of adolescents have shared prescriptions.

Here are some strategies to protect your child from this form of drug abuse:

1. Be aware of what is in your medicine cabinet and throw away pills that are no longer used.
2. If you retain medications, store them in a secure place where children and visiting children cannot have access to the drugs. Warn grandparents of this problem. Grandparents tend to take more medications than their children.
3. Discuss all the risks associated with taking medications for non-medically prescribed reasons. Talk about loss of consciousness, heart attack, breathing problems, over dose, addiction and sudden death. All previously mentioned items are possible. Many teens mix these drugs with alcohol to intensify the affect, which adds insult to injury.
4. Some states have laws that prohibit the sale of cold medicines that contain dextromethorphan to minors. This is not the case in Georgia. Some pharmacies only ask the cashier at the register if the customer is over 40. My question is, "what is the point of this action?"
5. Pseudoephedrine can only be purchased in a small quantity daily. ID is required but not all pharmacies use the same data bank. In essence, pseudoephedrine can be bought at different pharmacies and one can return a day later to buy more of it. Pseudoephedrine is used to make meth and that is why federal lawmakers have tried to discourage the immediate large sale of this medication. Personally, I would like to see retailers ID people for all OTC cold medications because nonprescription drug abuse is a national epidemic. Minors should not be buying medicine period.
6. Cough medicines are even changing the labels on their products. New labels state that “parents should not administer their product to children under 4 years of age without the consent of a medical professional.” Parents are being warned that the product is potent. The change is also due to the fact that asthmatic children cough frequently and masking the cough causes the child not to be treated for asthma.

Knowledge is power and talking to your children about this subject is an important weapon in the war on drugs. Stay well.