September 19, 2005 Hello! For years, parents have worried that their teens (and pre-teens) will abuse alcohol and/ or illegal street drugs. Teens often worry about friends who they think will make choices while under the influence of something... and later regret what was done. Most have heard about the dangers of smoking, drinking, and using illegal drugs. So, what about "drugs" that are "safe" because they are obtained from a doctor or pharmacy? "Thursday, July 7,
2005; 1:30 PM While access to illegal street drugs may be more difficult in some areas, access to alcohol and prescription medications (which are legal when prescribed and taken under the care of a doctor) is often more consistent. "'Availability is
the mother of abuse,' said Joseph A. Califano Jr., the center's
chairman and former U.S. secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.
'When I was young my parents would lock their liquor cabinet. It
may be parents should be thinking of locking their medicine cabinets.'
... 'Add in that we're inventing more and better and more powerful
drugs of all these types all the time and you have to see that there
are going to be more substances available, not fewer...'" But we are talking about "medicine" right? Not "drugs"? A drug is:
"(1) : a substance recognized in an official pharmacopoeia or formulary While a drug can treat and prevent disease if used properly, in doing so it is affecting "the structure or function of the body." When used for purposes other than those for which it was designed -- and in ways that manufacturers and doctors never intended -- "the structure or function of the body" can be affected in ways that can cause health problems rather than solve them. "Many abuse prescription
drugs on the misunderstanding that they are safe, when in fact they
can cause addiction and severe side effects. Opiate-based pain relievers
are quite addictive and can slow breathing to potentially deadly
slow levels, said John K. Jenkins, MD ... Kyle Moores, a 19-year-old
who is recovering from prescription drug
addiction, spoke about the price that he paid. A friend offered
him prescription pain relievers for free, but then as his dependency
grew, so did the price. In time, he was paying $50 a pill and maxing
out credit cards to continue his habit. That's when he knew he had
to get help. 'I didn‚t have anything left,' he says." "...they can cause addiction and severe side effects..." "Prescription drugs
are readily available and can easily be obtained by teenagers who
abuse these drugs to experience a variety of desired effects. Often
these young people are unaware of the serious health risks involved
in abusing prescription drugs." For example: "Opioids/pain relievers [such as] Dilaudid, Lorcet, Lortab, OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Tylox, Vicodin [are prescribed for] Pain, cough, diarrhea [and are responsible for adverse effects, such as] Life-threatening respiratory depression. "Depressants (benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, barbiturates, sedatives) [such as] Valium, Xanax [are prescribed for] Anxiety, sleep disorders [and are responsible for adverse effects, such as] Seizures, respiratory depression, decreased heart rate. "Stimulants [such
as] Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin [are prescribed for] Narcolepsy,
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obesity [and are responsible
for adverse effects, such as] High body temperature, irregular heart
rate, cardiovascular system failure, fatal seizures, hostility or
feelings of paranoia" These medications can be
responsible for adverse effects, such as: Too much information? Let's focus on one medication most teens have at least heard about, and to which many have easy access: Ritalin. "High doses of stimulants
produce a predictable set of symptoms that include loss of appetite
(may cause serious malnutrition), tremors and muscle twitching,
fevers, convulsions, and headaches (may be severe), irregular heartbeat
and respirations (may be profound and life threatening), anxiety,
restlessness, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions, excessive
repetition of movements and meaningless tasks, and formicaton (sensation
of bugs or worms crawling under the skin)." "Short-term effects
can include nervousness and insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and
vomiting, dizziness, palpitations, headaches, changes in heart rate
and blood pressure (usually elevation of both, but occasionally
depression), skin rashes and itching, abdominal pain, weight loss,
and digestive problems, toxic psychosis, psychotic episodes, drug
dependence syndrome, and severe depression upon withdrawal." Some may take the medication as directed by the doctor andmay experience adverse effects. Some may take a medication and benefit greatly. Some may see their medications as a "harmless" way to make some quick money on the side. "In December 2001
a 17-year-old Georgia resident was indicted on manslaughter and
reckless conduct charges for supplying OxyContin to a 15-year-old
who died from an overdose of the drug." Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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