Prescription Drugs are drugs that can only be obtained legally with a prescription,wrote to the person taking them,by a doctor. THE ONLY TIME PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE LEGAL ARE WHEN THE PRESCRIPTION IS WROTE TO THE PERSON TAKING THE DRUG.
Abuse of prescription drugs to get high has become increasingly prevalent among teens and young adults. Past year abuse of prescription pain killers now ranks second--behind marijuana--as the Nation's most prevalent illegal drug problem.
THREE MOST COMMONLY ABUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
1)opioids--codeine, oxycodone, & morphine
2)central nervous system depressants--barbiturates & benzodiazepines
3)stimulants--dextroamphetamine & methylphenidate
WHAT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE COMMONLY ABUSED:
The presciption drugs that are commonly abused in the US fall into several broad categories: opioids/narcotics/pain relievers, depressants, & stimulants. Individuals abuse these drugs because they are an easily accessible & inexpensive means of altering a user's mental & physical state; the effects vary depending upon the drugs they abuse.
HOW PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE ABUSED:
Prescription drugs are abused in a variety of ways. Many of the prescription drugs that are commonly abused are abailable as tablets. Typically abusers either consume the tablets orally or crush them into a powder & snort the powder. In some instances, abusers dissolve crushed tablets in water and then inject the solution.
STATISTICS:
Individuals of all ages abuse prescription drugs--data reported in the National Household Survey on Drug abuse indicate that an estimated 36 MILLION US residents aged 12 and older abused prescription drugs at least once IN THEIR LIFETIME.
This survey also revealed that MILLIONS of teenagers and young adults abuse prescription drugs--2.7 MILLION individuals aged 12 to 17 and 6.9 MILLION individuals aged 18 to 25 abused prescription drugs at least once.
Prescription drug abuse is a dangerously high concern among high school students.
According to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Survey, more than 10% of high school SENIORS in the US abused narcotics(other than heroin) at least once IN THEIR LIFETIME. Nearly 17% abused amphetamines(a typle of stimulant), 10% abused barbiturates, & 11% abused tranquilizers at least once.
THE RISKS:
The risks associated with prescription drug abuse vary depending upon the drugs that are abused.
Abuse of opioids/narcotics/pain relievers can result in life-threatening respiratory depression(reduced breathing).
Individuals who abuse depressants, including benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, barbiturates, & sedatives, place themselves at risk of seizures, respiratory depression, & decreased heart rate.
Stimulant abuse can cause high body temperature, irregular heart rate, cardiovascular system failure, & fatal seizures. It can also result in hostility or feelings of paranoia.
Individuals who abuse prescription drugs by injecting them expose themselves to additional risks, including contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), hepatitis B & C, and other blood-borne viruses.
HOW ARE THEY OBTAINED:
Prescription drugs are obtained in various ways. In some cases, unscrupulous pharmacists or other medical professionals either steal the drugs or sell fraudulent prescriptions. Individuals also call pharmacies with fraudulent prescription refills, or they alter prescriptions. Prescription drug occasionally are stolen from pharmacies.
Young people typically obtain prescription drugs from peers, friends, or family members. Some individuals who have legitimate prescriptions sell or give away their drugs. Young people also acquire prescription drugs by stealing them from relatives and other individuals with legitimate prescriptions or from school medicine dispensaries.
STREET LINGO 4 COMMONLY ABUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS:
Opioids/Narcotics/Pain Relievers:
OxyContin--hillbilly heroin, oxycet, oxycotton
Percocet--percs
Vicodin--happy pills, vikes
Depressants:
Xanax--totem poles
Benzodiazepines--candy, downers, sleeping pills, tranks
Barbiturates--barbs, blue birds, phennies, reds, tooties, yellows, yellow jackets
Stimulants:
Ritalin--kiddy cocaine, vitamin r, west coast
Amphetamines--bennies, black beauties, crosses, hearts, LA turnaround, speed, truck drivers, uppers
ABUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IS ILLEGAL
DRUG TYPE | COMMON BRAND NAMES |
Opioids/narcotics/pain relievers | Dilaudid, Lorcet, Lortab, OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Tylox, Vicodin |
Depressants (benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, barbiturates, sedatives) | Librium, Valium, Xanax |
Stimulants | Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin |
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