Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription Drugs Abused by Teens

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Prescription Drug Abuse on March 10th, 2010

Teen prescription drug abusers, or what they call ‘Generation Rx’, are a growing in number. Drugs that are usually obtained only with a proper medical presciption are being abused by children as young as 12 years old. Here are some common prescription drugs that are abused by the youth:

prescription drugsStimulants

These drugs are prescribed for patients who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), asthma, obesity and narcolepsy. The drugs function to counteract feelings of weakness usually caused by fatigue, stress or alcohol. These drugs enhance concentration, alertness and energy and are often mixed with alcohol, which makes it even more dangerous. Teens usually abuse these drugs during activities that may need an extra push, like long examinations or competitive games. Examples of stimulants are Ritalin, Dexedrine and Concerta.

Painkillers

Painkillers can be either opium or morphine (narcotic) derivatives. These are prescribed to those suffering from chronic pain. Marijuana is also known to be prescribed to those who are dealing with cancer, which is medically proven to help administer pain. Vicodin is one of those painkiller drugs which are very potent and addictive. Among the listed drugs that are addictive are: Codeine, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Opium, Morphine and Fentanyl.

Depressants

These drugs are usually prescribed to patients who suffer from tension, sleep disorders and panic attacks. Depending on the dose, depressants act as a form of anaesthetic. These are usually called sedatives or tranquilizers, whose primary function is to slow down brain activity. Common prescribed depressants are Valium, Klonopin, Soma, Xanax and Ambien.

Unfortunately, while you should need a medical prescription to obtain these drugs, teens can easily access them online without presenting anything from the doctor. There are also people actually peddling prescription drugs in some universities.

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Managing Childhood Obesity

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Prescription Drug Abuse, Raising Healthy Kids on February 24th, 2010

Obesity – it is a reality faced by more than a third of the US population. Many children are also affected by obesity, and they have a 70% chance of growing up as overweight or obese adults. Obese children have elevated health risks, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, liver disease, asthma, cancer, and osteoarthritis.

childhood obesityAside from these, childhood obesity also has psychological and social effects. Many of those with difficulty in managing their weights are often bullied by schoolmates. This may result in low self esteem, social withdrawal and depression. These manifestations, in turn, lead to more negative results, such as poor school performance, behavior problems and even potential drug abuse.

Another danger that overweight or obese teens may face is the lure of weight loss pills. While these pills may be helpful in managing weight, it is important to remember that these should be taken upon the professional advice of a doctor and its intake must be regulated and monitored.

This goes to show how important it is to properly manage our children’s meals while they are young. They need to appreciate healthy foods and enjoy physical activities. Keep them interested in active sports, and not just in watching TV or playing video games. It is also extremely important to develop our kids’ confidence while young. They need to believe in themselves and trust in their skills and capabilities. This will help them achieve better health results for themselves as well as manage peer pressures.

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Teens and Diet Pill Abuse

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Prescription Drug Abuse, Raising Healthy Kids on February 20th, 2010

Diet pills come in different packages. These pills were formulated to help those suffering from obesity to lose some pounds and ultimately achieve a healthier weight. Obese people have increased risks of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, certain types of cancer, premature death and other related diseases.

However, some teens who are overly conscious of their looks tend to use and abuse diet pills with the goal of losing more weight even if they do not fall under the category ‘obese’. Some just want to look thinner or shed a few more pounds here and there.

diet pillsMost teens who fall into the trap of diet pill abuse are usually those with low confidence levels. They falsely believe that they are unattractive and unlikeable if they don’t fit in the clothes others are wearing. Parents need to always encourage their children to believe in themselves, to trust their capabilities and bring out their natural talents. Increased confidence will help teens accept who they are. Parents need to constantly remind teens that everyone is created differently, and that we can never be like others in the same way that they can never be like us.

There are several kinds of diet pills. Appetite suppressants control hunger and urge to eat. This may lead to ulcer, chest pain and migraines. Fat and carb blockers promise to eliminate fats in one’s system. Common side effects are diarrhea, oily discharge and allergic reactions. Other common kinds are metabolism boosters and cortisol managers, which disturb natural body processes. Also, these pills add unnecessary stress to the kidney and the liver.

In truth, the only healthy way to lose weight and look great is to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. There are – and should be — no shortcuts.

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Abusing Sleeping Pills May Not Get You The Sleep You Need

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse on January 21st, 2010

Sleeping pills are a kind of medicine for people who have trouble sleeping, and this is a kind of medicine that is highly sought-after by insomniacs and troubled people. They often turn to this if their sleeping conditions have become unbearable, and this can lead to serious problems later on if the drug is abused. Let’s first try to go over at the reasons why people take sleeping pills.

sleeping pillsAs previously stated, sleeping pills are made to help people sleep. They are particularly strong sedatives that easily put you to sleep. Of course, the effect of the sedative isn’t lasting – it’s just enough to make you drowsy.

The other reason why people take sleeping pills is not as straightforward as the first. Some take it during times of depression. It is generally inadvisable to do so, since taking pills in a relatively unstable mental condition can lead to addiction. The reason why sleeping pills are taken in this state is mainly because of their sedative quality – it numbs the pain, it helps you forget, and it takes you far away from the world. These traits are more than enough to get people hooked to these drugs.

As with all drugs, it has its own adverse effects. Overdosing on the pills can drive you into a state of comatose, and, in some cases, death. Some also choose to compound the effects of the pills with other drugs, and the fatality of the drugs is also compounded in this case. If you have any health problems, these pills may also complicate whatever condition that you have.

Before taking any sleeping pills, remember that these are drugs meant to aid you in getting sleep. These were not meant to treat stress or depression, and addiction to these could do more harm to you than good.

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Risks of Weight Loss Pill Abuse

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse on January 3rd, 2010

One of the quickest ways to lose weight – at least as most people like to believe – is through the consumption of weight loss pills. It’s not hard to see why, since these help you skip the whole tiresome process that we call exercise, and is relatively less painful than other methods of weight loss. After all, it is hard to lessen your calorie intake when the food is too good to pass up.

weight lossBut of course, weight loss pills have their risks as well, and the damage mostly lies within the digestive system. The side effects include diarrhea, constipation, nausea, insomnia, and at times heart problems.

Despite the glaring side effects that plague weight loss pills, people are still willing to use them mainly because they are accessible to everyone, and are either too lazy or too busy to go out and do some exercise. This may be an acceptable reason to some extent, but it becomes a matter of great concern when your faith is misplaced on the drug. These diet pills are not the ultimate solution to your weight problems.

Some weight loss pills are designed to decrease one’s appetite, and these are the type to be avoided whenever possible, since this can give your body highly undesirable effects. The risk of using this type of drug is higher than pills that serve to inhibit fat absorption.

Taking weight loss pills may be one of the quickest and most painless ways to lose weight, but the risk is high, especially if consumed in large and uncontrolled quantities. Get some exercise and eat right whenever you can. A healthier lifestyle is always the best way to achieve and keep a fit body.

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Dangers of Abusing Depressants and Stimulants

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction, Prescription Drug Abuse on December 30th, 2009

It may come as a surprise to some, but the truth is that you don’t really need to go very far to find addicting drugs. Some believe that the dangerous drugs are only available in the streets, and that you can’t find them anywhere else. On the contrary, even the most common of drugs in the market can be dangerous if taken non-medically and in unreasonably large doses.

prescription drug abuseSo, what are the most commonly abused prescription drugs? Depressants, which include the very common cough syrup and painkillers, are highly abused prescription drugs. Abusers often take these because they like the sense of being numb, of being unable to feel any kind of pain or anxiety. This artificial state of induced calm can be dangerous in the long-term, especially in the case of central nervous system depressants, which can permanently alter a person’s mental state adversely.

Stimulants are also highly abused prescription drugs. Most prescription drugs of this type are often used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, since these are the type of drugs that give you an artificial sense of being energetic and high, but abusers often take them as “performance enhancers”. Stimulants can be extremely dangerous as they can cause a person to behave more aggressively toward his peers and colleagues, and the euphoria that the drugs seem to bring also alter a person’s rational thinking.

Although prescription drugs are available legally and can be bought from your local pharmacy, using them for reasons other than what has been prescribed by doctors can be dangerous and even deadly.

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