Preventing Rx Abuse in Your Community

Transcription

1 Preventing Rx Abuse in Your Community

2 The Teen Rx Abuse Connection Rx Medications are All Around Us and Teens Notice There s a pill for every ill, and when we go to the doctor due to illness, it s natural to want to walk out with a prescription! Direct-to-consumer advertising on TV and in magazines is pervasive. Many people don t know how to safely use these medications or ignore their doctor s instructions. Every day, 2000 teens abuse a prescription drug for the first time.

3 As a result Rx drugs are part of teen culture. Teens Normalize this form of drug abuse. Take these meds for legitimate reasons with or without a prescription to stay awake, remain alert or to go to sleep. Purposely abuse these drugs to get high. They participate in pharming and bowling parties. Are often unaware that these activities can lead to disastrous results.

4 Teenagers don t know that abusing Rx drugs can Increase blood pressure or heart rate. Damage the brain and other organs. Lead to accidental overdose / poisonings. Cause physical dependency and / or addiction. Disrupt breathing (respiratory depression). Lead to risks associated with mixing multiple drugs or combining with alcohol. Cause seizures and even death.

5 Facts & Stats While Rx drugs serve an important purpose when used under a doctor s care, the misuse of prescription medicines is a growing, under-recognized problem that puts young lives at risk.

6 Next to marijuana, the most common illegal drugs teens are abusing are prescription medicines. While there continues to be a long-term drop in past-year non-medical use of Rx medicines overall, the increased abuse of prescription stimulants particularly among teens and young people is a cause of concern. Did you know?

7 Rx Access Points Friends & Family Source of Concern

8 Teens say that They abuse these medicines for a variety of reasons: Get high Treat pain They think it will help them with their school work Interestingly, boys and girls tend to abuse some types of prescription drugs for different reasons. Boys are more likely to abuse prescription stimulants to get high, while girls tend to abuse them to stay alert or to lose weight.

9 Parental / Guardian beliefs & attitudes Many parents aren t aware of the dangers of Rx abuse it s just not on their radar screen. Prescription medicines can be found in homes of family or friends, and parents don t realize the connection between teen Rx abuse and easy availability. Many parents do not know how to effectively talk with their teens about Rx drug abuse. They often find out about an Rx problem when it is too late.

10 EDUCATE Watch for Physical Warning Signs Excessive sweating, urination or thirst Nausea and vomiting Uncontrollable diarrhea Spastic shaking Drowsiness, dizziness and insomnia Loss of consciousness Physical dependence Addiction

11 EDUCATE Watch for Other Warning Signs Sudden mood changes, including irritability, negative attitude, personality change. Extreme changes in groups of friends or hangout locations. Lying or being deceitful, unaccounted time away from home/missed school days, avoiding eye contact. Losing interest in personal appearance, extracurricular activities or sports. Poor performance at school. Borrowing money or having extra cash. Visiting and even purchasing from pro-drug abuse (illegal) web sites.

12 COMMUNICATE Talk to teens about Rx abuse Teens learn by example. When they see mom, dad, a sibling or grandparent taking a pill even responsibly it doesn t seem so bad. Many teens report that their parents have the greatest influence on their drug use attitudes and decisions. Kids who continue to learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50% less likely to use drugs than those who are not taught about these dangers.

13 COMMUNICATE Talking to teens DENORMALIZE THE BEHAVIOR While on-average, 2000 teens use prescription drugs without a doctor s guidance for the first time, many more DO NOT! DEBUNK COMMON MYTHS: Rx abuse is just as dangerous as abusing other substances; it can be addictive; and it s not OK to misuse these drugs even once in a while. GIVE TEENS ESCAPE ROUTES Teach them how to get out of bad situations; and suggest responses they can use when confronted with potential prescription medicine abuse or misuse: No, thanks not into it. Not today. I m not interested.

14 SAFEGUARD Keep track of your meds Parents (and other family members) are in the best position to reduce access to prescription drugs by locking up medicines and properly disposing of expired or unused medicines. Monitor all medications in the home prescription and OTC medicines. Safely store medicines out of children s reach and sight. Consider locking them up. Get rid of old or unused medicines.

15 SAFEGUARD Guidelines for Rx drug disposal Follow instructions on the Rx drug label or patient information that comes with the medicine. Never flush medicines down the sink or toilet unless you are instructed to do so. Take advantage of community drug take-back programs, including National Drug Take-Back Days. Call your city or county government's household trash and recycling service to see if a take-back program is available in your community. If neither instructions nor take-back events are accessible, throw the drugs away in the household trash, following these steps: 1. Remove the medicine from its original container and mix it with an undesirable substance (cat litter or used coffee grinds). 2. Place the mixture in a sealed bag, empty can or other container. 3. Before disposing of a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label so it can t be read. 4. Never give these medicines to others. 5. When in doubt about proper disposal, talk with your pharmacist.

16 Want to learn more? COMMUNITY ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG DIVERSION INVESTIGATORS NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PATIENT INFORMATION AND EDUCATION S RECOVERY OPENS DOORS NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL PREVENTING Rx DRUG OVERDOSES PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG-FREE AMERICA PEERx (NIDA for Teens) WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY, PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE