Prescription Drug Abuse

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Prescription Drug Abuse

• Playing Mad Scientist With Our Brain Chemistry

Brought to you by The Lincoln Council on
Alcoholism and Drugs

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Prescription Medication

• Brain spends most of its time chatting to itself
• Prescriptions enhance and affect this process on
  a level more fine tuned than any other
  
• Cellular memory or dependence

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Why Rx Has Burst Onto the Scene

• Not illicit to possess
• Less stigma involved
• Very easy to procure
• Can reduce contact with law
• enforcement if on probation etc.
• Great education regarding illicit substances

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Kids (and adults) see Rx drugs as
Sanitized
Safe
Sanctioned
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Difference in Population

• Adults who abuse unintentionally due to injury or
  confusion regarding their medication (elderly)
  
• Adults who abuse intentionally to avoid
  entanglement with illicit drugs
  
• Youth Rx abuse, common activities, misconceptions

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Rx Drugs Commonly Abused

• Painkillers (OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet,
  Demerol, Darvon)
  
• Sedatives and Tranquilizers
• Stimulants
• Psychiatric drugs (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft,
  Wellbutrin/Zyban, Nardil)

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OxyContin 2
Abuse of pain killers comprises three quarters of
the Rx Drug problem in the US.
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OxyContin A New Age of Medicine

• Time released
• Provides extended relief of chronic pain when
  used correctly
  
• Highly addictive
• Over prescribed

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Stimulants Depressants
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Common Effects
Depressants
Stimulants

• Anxiousness
• Risk Taking
• Headaches
• Heightened focus
• "jitters
• Elevated heart rate
• Sense of clarity
• Argumentative
• Energy

• Reduced pain
• Reduced anxiety
• Feeling of well-being
• Lowered inhibitions
• Slowed pulse and breathing
• Lowered blood pressure
• Poor concentration

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Paxil
Psychiatric Drugs A whole new kind of Pharming
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Psychiatric Drugs
A whole new kind of pharming

• Commonly prescribed
• May have many different types around as
  medication is balanced
  
• Often not disposed of
• Pharming Parties

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What to watch for

• Physical Signs Symptoms
• Constricted pupils
• Flushed skin
• Slurred speech
• Clumsiness
• Sweating

• Behavioral Signs
• Personality Changes
• Mood Swings
• Irritability
• Excessive Energy
• Sleepiness
• Avoiding Sleep
• Loss of Appetite
• Forgetfulness

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Other Signs

• Missing pills
• Unfamiliar pills
• Empty cough cold medicine bottles or packages
• Running out of pills quickly
• Losing pills
• Requesting refills
• Borrowing money OR having extra unexplained cash
• Skipping classes
• Suddenly not doing well in school

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What to ask a physician

• Will this medicine work safely with the other
  prescription and nonprescription medicines
  currently taken by my teen or myself?
  
• What are the side effects that can happen with
  this medicine and what should be done if they
  occur?
  
• Does this prescription drug have the potential
  for addiction and/or abuse?
  

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What to ask a physician

• What are the specific signs and symptoms of
  addiction or abuse I need to be looking for (for
  myself and for someone else)?
  
• How should I store this medicine? How should I
  dispose of any leftover medicine if advised by
  the doctor to stop taking it?

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Viagra
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The Just Plain Weird

• Viagra, Cialis, Levitra
• Inhalers (any kind)
• Midol, TylenolPM
• Hand sanitizer, mouthwash (alcohol)
• Cocktails gone wrong

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• As a general rule, we should all periodically
• check our medicine cabinets for any expired, re-
• bottled, or unidentified pills. The safest bet is
  to
  
• keep all medications in their original bottles
  or
  
• packets, with
• pertinent labeling
• and instructions
• attached, to
• avoid confusion
• and mistakes.

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Related Concerns

• Over the counter medicine abuse is on the rise
• Cough medicine, antihistamines, cold medicine
• DXM
• Misinformation about how much you can take
• Rebottling Rx medication into OTC containers

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Resources

• Facts
• www.erowid.org
• NCADI.samhsa.gov
• www.theantidrug.com
• Identification
• Pharmacists, locally owned especially
• Drugs.com (Pill Identifier)

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Questions?

• Lincoln Council on Alcoholism and Drugs
• 475-2694
• www.lcad.org