Prescription Drug Abuse: Is It Really a Problem?
While many people still don’t see the intentional abuse of prescription drugs as a serious problem, one mom I’ve come to know well, Misty Fetko, can tell you just how serious a problem it is.
On the morning of July 16, 2003, two days before her son Carl was supposed to leave for college she found him unconscious and not breathing. As an emergency room nurse, Misty immediately jumped into action trying CPR to save her son’s life – but there was nothing she could do. Carl had died of a lethal mix of Fentanyl (a prescription narcotic) marijuana, and an over-the-counter cough product.
I wish I could tell you that Carl’s story was an anomaly, but our research shows that 1 in 5 teens have abused medicines and most don’t understand the risks. More than half of teens who try this dangerous behavior believe it’s safer than using street drugs, and don’t see anything wrong with abusing them once in a while. These teens are dangerously mistaken.
From 1995 to 2004, the number of deaths involving prescription opiod painkillers increased 160 percent according the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By 2004, the CDC reports deaths from abuse of prescription pain medicines surpassed both heroin and cocaine overdoses as the leading cause of poisoning deaths.
The Partnership was the first organization to identify this alarming trend in prescription drug abuse thanks to research funded by our kind contributors. With a proven track record in helping to reduce the use of illegal street drugs, we are working across the nation to curb the illicit use of prescription drugs. Please let us help you right now with this fantastic new website of ways you can safeguard your home and stop medicine abuse.
This effort can be successful! Between 1998 and 2001, teen use of the club drug Ecstasy jumped 71%, peaking in 2001. The Partnership began a research-based public education campaign about the dangers of Ecstasy in late 2000, and by 2003, use had plunged as teen’s perception of the risks of using Ecstasy increased over 20% according to the Monitoring The Future study. (Here’s a dowloadable brochure about “X” if you want to know more.)
We have succeeded in the past and we can succeed again even on a challenge this close to home – so I’m closing by asking for your vital support this holiday season.
I understand these are challenging economic times, and we appreciate your donation more than ever. Your contribution of $15, $25, or even $50 will enable us to continue our work combating prescription drug abuse so that more young lives aren’t damaged and more parents aren’t confronted with the death of their child.
Thank you. Happy Holidays!
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Yes, prescription drug abuse is alive and well in the United States. It’s as simple as turning on your television. Prescription drugs are constantly being thrown in our faces by the media. If you have a headache or are feeling depressed, there’s a magical pill for you that will cure all of your ailments. It’s very easy to become addicted to medications because many of us have it built up in our minds that we cannot function without them. It’s a real problem that will only get worse if it isn’t addressed properly.
I appreciate some feedback I received to my last post so I added back in the sourcing for key statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and also the University of Michigan’s ongoing Mointoring the Future Study (MTF). Both organizations have searchable websites so if you are looking for more information on prescription drug deaths search the CDC while the MTF site gives myriad annual measures of teen substance abuse including medicines and Ecstasy.
The problem with prescription drugs is that often kids are just raiding cabinets and collecting whatever they can without even knowing what they have or what they might be ingesting or crushing and snorting and exactly how the pills will effect their body and if and how they interact.
A compound problem with crushing the pills to either snort or inject is that many pills are not designed to be crushed like that and if they go into the body like that they can cause serious problems because those parts of the crushed pill that normally get dissolved via digestive acid end up floating through the blood stream and can end up causing serious clots or the pieces and wind up stuck in the lung and cause an excruciatingly painful death.
To top it all off, most people don’t understand the fundamental difference with using an opiate like heroin or opium and an opiate such as Oxycodone or Vicodin. Heroin and opium are both drugs that are typically purchased off the street and manufactured in a fairly crude way in comparison to the Pharmaceuticals Vicodin and Oxycodone. The pharmaceuticals are made to be effective and are very strong and very pure, much more so than heroin, which is why it is so unsafe to mix prescription drugs and people are often told to consult with a physician before taking any new drugs and to always tell the doctor what medications your currently are taking if you intend on being prescribed more. Now, of course many adults understand this aspect of medicine but an ignorant child/teenager that is looking for a buzz and maybe to impress his pals by scoring some good pills to share with them is not going to exercise the same caution when dealing with prescription drugs.
thank you. The article a bit more up to standard now.
Great post- prescription drug abuse is ABSOLUTELY a problem- moreso than most people even care to admit. It is no wonder that prescription drug abuse is on the rise. Why, all you have to do is turn on the television and absorb the preponderance of commercials related to prescription medication. The only way that we can help to prevent abuse of prescription medication is by exploring other alternatives (where applicable) as well as being thoroughly informed about prescription drug abuse.
Yes, prescription drugs, supported by lobbyists of the AMA and pharmaceutical companies are a problem of ever growing proportions. The doctor’s rhetoric of great concern easily convinces you that such prescribed medications will do you some good — a bit like the old witch handing Snow White the shiney red apple. Currently, they are at the very least required to list all side effects, which are numerous and too scary to think about.
However, I would like to know what steps are being taken currently to promote THE PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL once more. Why intelligent voters and citizens of this country ever voted to repeal the prohibition of something as lethal as alcohol, I’ll never understand. It is far more accessible and obtainable by youth than any other drug on the market, and in many circles considered socially acceptable. Alcohol is far more dangerous because it is a legally sanctioned and widely distributed commercial substance. I’m not telling anybody anything new here. It’s quite plain that the biggest culprits are legally sanctioned for consumption — both prescription drugs and myriads of alcoholic concoctions.
I have personal experience with a perscription drug problem that after it spun wildly out of control led to my full blown addiction to Heroin. I am happy to say that with help I am now a month clean come thursday the 27th of February 2009. I had tried progressive programs that proponed such labels as ‘21 day detox’ and ‘90 day detox’ using methedone to step down. However it finally came down to a decision and an offer of lodging far away from the influence of the dark alley of where I have lived for seven years. I have also decided to chronical my struggle with withdrawal on a blog open to the public at breakingthechain.spaces.live.com. Please vist and give any encouragement you are able. Nameste E
Absolutely it’s a huge problem we are facing today. I am sure these stats & effects here http://www.teendrugabuse.us/prescription_drug_abuse.html, mentioned are very justifying description. And more and more searches are carried out on the latest teen prescription drug abuse trends and how badly, the effects of these drugs turn their life miserable. Drugs like pain killers, sedatives, depressants, cough syrups are the choices teens have to get highs.