Prescription Drug Use

1
Prescription Drug Use

• The growing abuse of prescription medications
  among adolescents

Debbie Jones 4th District Representative Powhatan
County School Board
2
Lets Talk Facts

• The Realities of Prescription Drug Abuse

3
Did you know?

• New users of prescription drugs have caught up
  with new users of marijuana.
• For the first time, there are just as many new
  abusers (12 and older) of prescription drugs as
  there are marijuana. (SAMHSA, 2006)
• Next to marijuana, the most common illegal drugs
  teens are using to get high are prescription
  medications.
• Three percent or 840,000 teens ages 12-17,
  reported current abuses of prescription drugs in
  2005 (NSDUH, 2006)

Teens and Prescription Drugs An Analysis of
Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat,
Office of National Drug Control Policy,
Executive Office of the President, February 2007.
4
Did you know?

• The most recent research on deaths in the U.S.
  due to poisoning over a five-year period
  (1999-2004) shows that nearly all poison deaths
  in the country are attributed to drugs, and most
  drugs poisonings result from the abuse of
  prescription and illegal drugs. (CDC, 2007)

Teens and Prescription Drugs An Analysis of
Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat,
Office of National Drug Control Policy,
Executive Office of the President, February 2007.
5
Did you know?

• Adolescents are more likely than young adults to
  become dependent on prescription medication.

6
This is not a problem here

• 16 Henrico middle school students charged
• in prescription drug case (Richmond Times
  Dispatch)
• Published May 12, 2009
• Sixteen students from Byrd and Tuckahoe middle
  schools in Henrico County have been charged with
  distributing and/or possessing the prescription
  drug
• Henrico police have brought a total of 32 charges
  against the 16 students stemming from the
  distribution of the drug on April 24 and April
  30, said Henrico police Lt. Gary Watson.

7
This is not a problem here

• The local School Board is also seeing an
  increased number of students coming before the
  board for possession, use, or distribution of
  prescription medications.
• The Superintendent of Schools and the local
  School Board have prepared an informational
  letter to be sent home to all parents. (May, 2009)

8
What and why?

• The Motivations Behind the Abuse

9
What are they abusing?

• Pain relievers such as OxyContin and Vicodin are
  the most commonly abused prescription drugs by
  teens.
• What else?
• Adderall
• Other stimulant medications
• Other types of tranquilizers

10
More facts

• In 2006, past-year abuse of OxyContin among 8th
  graders exactly doubledincreasing 100 percent
  over the last four years (from 1.3 in 2002 to
  2.6 in 2006).
• In 10th graders, past-year abuse of OxyContin
  increased by 26 percent (from 3.0 in 2002, to
  3.8 in 2006). (MTF, 2006)

Teens and Prescription Drugs An Analysis of
Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat,
Office of National Drug Control Policy,
Executive Office of the President, February 2007.
11
What is the motivation?

• False belief that these drugs
  -provide a medically safe high.
• To relieve pain
• To relieve anxiety
• To sleep better
• For experimentation
• Due to peer pressure/wanting to fit in
• For improved concentration or to remain
  awake/stay alert

12
What do the kids say?

• More than one-third of teens say they feel some
  pressure to abuse prescription drugs, and nine
  percent say using prescription drugs to get high
  is an important part of fitting in with their
  friends. (Seventeen, 2006)
• Four out of 10 teens agree that prescription
  medicines are much safer to use than illegal
  drugs, even if they are not prescribed by a
  doctor. (PATS, 2006)
• Nearly three out of 10 teens (29 or 6.8 million)
  believe prescription pain relieverseven if not
  prescribed by a doctorare not addictive. (PATS,
  2006)

Teens and Prescription Drugs An Analysis of
Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat,
Office of National Drug Control Policy,
Executive Office of the President, February 2007.
13
sources

• Ready Access to Prescription Medications

14
How do teens access drugs?

• At home
• Medicine cabinets
• Their own prescriptions
• From relatives
• From friends (in and out of school)
• Buy them
• Offered them
• Online

15
Outcomes

• Why Prescription Drug Abuse is a REAL Danger

16
What are the consequences?

• Potential -
• Addiction
• Health problems resulting from misuse or overuse.
• Brain or other organ damage
• Death
• Removal from school
• Expulsion/suspension
• Criminal charges

17
Communication/Monitoring

• How Parents Can Help

18
What can you do?

• Talk (and then talk some more) to your children
  about the hazards of prescription drug abuse and
  misuse.
• Limit access to prescription medications in the
  home.
• Place prescription meds in a secure location.
• Monitor your childrens taking of their own
  medications.
• Ensure that you have provided the school nurse
  with your childrens medications if they need to
  be taken at school. Do NOT allow the child to
  bring his/her own medicine(s) to school.
• If you suspect drug abuse, take your child to see
  a doctor and secure counseling support.
• Intervene EARLY!

19
Questions?
20
Resources

• Adolescents Motivations to Abuse Prescription
  Medications, Journal of the American Academy of
  Pediatrics, 2006.
• Prevention Brief, National Center for Mental
  Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention,
  January 2009.
• Rx Danger Zones The Search Starts at Home, The
  Anti-Drug Zone. Retrieved from
  http//www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/transcript-ho
  use-tour.html on May 20, 2009.
• Teens and Prescription Drugs An Analysis of
  Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat,
  Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive
  Office of the President, February 2007.
• Misuse of Prescription Drugs, National Survey on
  Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), Substance Abuse and
  Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
  2006
• The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS)
  Teens in grades 7 through 12. Partnership for a
  Drug-Free America. 2006
• Seventeen Magazine, March Issue. 2007
• The 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administration (SAMHSA). 2006