Sedatives and Suggestions

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Sedatives and Suggestions

• Tumaria McDaniel
• Spelman College

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Overview of Presentation

• Sedating Antihistamines (DU23)
• Motivations for Misuse
• Ends and Means (DU16)
• Veterinarians and Prescription Drug Abuse

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Sedating Antihistamines (DU23)

• Though sedating antihistamines are not
  considered sedatives, their popularity among the
  18-25 age group must be noted. Some, like
  Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Doxylamine (Nyquil),
  Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), and Promethazine, are
  used in conjunction with prescription sedatives
  or just by themselves.

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Purple Drank

• Purple Drank, Lean, Syrup, or Barre is
  commonly a mix of one ounce of prescription
  Promethazine and codeine syrup, Sprite, and a
  Jolly Rancher which is then served over ice.
  First popularized by DJ Screw and then Three Six
  Mafia.

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Purple Drank

• How popular is Promethazine?
• Terrance Kiel, DB for the San Diego Chargers,
  was charged with illegally shipping cases of the
  Promethazine-codeine syrup back to his hometown
  in Texas. In Houston, seven pharmacists and a
  doctor were convicted for illegally diverting
  2,500 gallons of narcotic cough syrup.

• How much does it cost?
• According to the DEA, illegally diverted syrup
  typically sells for 12/pint. This diverted syrup
  is then sold to street dealers for about
  300/pint. The dealers then sell the syrup to
  users for 40-85/ounce or 640-1360/pint.
  (Texas prices)

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Other Variations of Syrup

• A common variation to Purple Drank is a mixture
  containing Nyquil, alcohol, and fruit punch or
  soda. It is less potent than the
  Promethazine-codeine mixture but can still
  provide the user with some of the same effects.

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Motivations for Misuse

• What qualifies as misuse?
• Abuse or non-medical use or both?
• RBA questions seemed to be aimed at abuse
• What about people who get sedatives to use on
  other people?
• How do we pick up that kind of misuse?

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Date Rape and Drug-Assisted Robbery

• Almost all of the benzodiazepines are included in
  a listing of drugs commonly used for date rape.
• In 2004, Selina Hakki was found guilty of using
  Rohypnol to drug wealthy men and rob them of
  their clothes and accessories.
• According to the Observer, up to 2,000 men and
  women are being robbed each year after having
  their drinks or food spiked with powerful
  sedatives. (Low numbers)
• See PH2, 10 (Setting a drink down vs. leaving
  unattended)

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Ends and Means (DU16)

• DU16 2 roughly asks, In the last 12 months, how
  did you get your drug of choice from (Person)?
• In its current form, DU16 2 will not capture
  that information
• Respondent is forced to choose a clear cut answer
• Solution make DU16 2 open-ended

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An Example

• Twenty-five year old Jane Does drug of choice
  is Ritalin. Jane Doe takes her 6 year old son,
  Jacob, to a physician and claims that he is
  suffering from ADD. She asks for a higher dosage
  explaining to the doctor that her family has just
  moved into town and Jacob is more hyperactive
  than usual. The doctor prescribes the higher
  dosage. Jacob never receives the medicine.

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What are we looking for?

• Overall aim or central theme of this study is the
  abuse of prescription drugs
• All questions should be reflective of this aim
• Rx drug abuse is the illegal, non-medical use of
  a drug

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What is DU16 2 looking at?

• Is it looking at abuse?
• The problem is with how the question looks at
  abuse
• Abuse is being looked at as if it has a terminal
  end (Acquiring the drug is the ultimate goal)

Craving or Withdrawal
Resources
Acquire
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How should we look at abuse?

• Abuse is a cycle it has a fictional end (the
  ultimate goal can never be achieved)
• The ultimate goal for the user is to achieve 1st
  high

Resources
Craving or Withdrawal
Acquire
High
1st High/Euphoria
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Constitutive Means Fictional End

• Constitutive means (components of the ultimate
  goal)
• Withdrawal/Craving
• Resources
• Acquire

• Fictional End (ultimate goal)
• 1st High

Constitutive means are the how. DU16 2 does not
capture how.
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Veterinarians and Rx Drug Abuse

• Fifty year old John Does drug of choice is
  hydroxyzine. John used to have a prescription for
  hydroxyzine, but when his doctor found out that
  he was exaggerating his symptoms to receive a
  higher dosage he cut him off. Johns dog has
  allergies. He takes the dog to the veterinarian
  and the dog is prescribed hydroxyzine.

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Veterinarians and Rx Drug Abuse

• Over 43 million without insurance
• Cheaper drugs
• In some cases, doses may be stronger
• Easier access

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On a lighter note

• Ted Drews is a close second to Coldstone
  Creamery
• Sexy Schnucks is the equivalent to the Club
  Wal-mart in Memphis
• Chase Park Plaza and the Moolah are the best
  movie theatres
• The employee discount at Childrens Hospital will
  save your life

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The End

• Questions or Comments?
• Thanks for listening and check your e-mail!
• Thank You EPRG and Staff!