Posts Tagged prescription drugs

Prescription Drugs Deadlier than Cocaine and Heroin

Posted by Drug Free in Prescription Drug Abuse on December 1st, 2009

According to a statewide report on drug-related deaths in Florida, tagged as the nation’s capital for “pill mills”, prescription drugs have overtaken cocaine and heroin as the deadliest drugs.

prescription drugsThe study found that the painkiller oxycodone, with brand names such as Xanax and Valium, and the addiction-treatment drug methadone caused the most drug-related deaths in Florida during the first half of the year. These deaths are highly preventable if only medical practitioners are more careful in prescribing these drugs and are more vigilant in checking other practitioners who may be prescribing painkillers in large numbers.

Governor Charlie Crist has already signed the law that requires pharmacists and peddlers of addictive drugs in the state to submit sales reports to a database. This database aims to check possible drug dealers or abusers who go from one doctor to another, as if shopping for prescription drugs, or who get pills from multiple sources.

A survey by the Partnership for a Drug Free America also reveals that one in five teens admit of experimenting with legal medication. This disturbing trend in prescription drug abuse is also causing significant damage to our youth, who may be getting their drug fix within their very own homes.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency advises parents to talk to their children about the risks of abusing prescription drugs and inspect medicine cabinets at home to take regular inventories. Prescription drugs are meant to help patients deal with pain or discomfort, but in the wrong hands, they can be extremely dangerous.

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Use Internet to Combat Drug Abuse

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation, Prescription Drug Abuse on September 4th, 2009

abuse

Access to drugs has become so easy nowadays with computer savvy teenagers purchasing drugs online. Internet pharmacies are now preferred by most teenagers since they can access any dangerous prescription drug as well as other street drugs like heroin, without any question. But parents now can take a sigh of relief. The Treatment Research Institute (TRI) in collaboration with Unyos, a Maryland – based software developing company, are helping parents, professionals and others by developing a software which will deal with the dangers that the internet pharmacies pose to the teenagers.

The resource will be available at the website www.websafeparent.com from September, 2009. “Drug addiction is a major problem of our society. It destroys human potential and community and has led to an overburdened criminal justice system. We are excited by the opportunity to help TRI address this misunderstood health care problem and continue the shift to prevention and treatment” said Mr.Carey Krez, CEO of Unyos.

TRI is a non-profit making research and development organization. It conducts researches in the field of addiction and transforms the findings into products that can be of use to service providers, policy makers, etc. The innovative approach taken by the alliance will provide science-based information and other multimedia resources as well as an online network. The site will be extremely beneficial for professionals and parents who are concerned about drug abuse, in understanding and dealing with threats of internet pharmacies. The information available in the site will be downloadable as well.  

Constance Pechura, Executive Director of TRI said “TRI conducts some of the best addiction research in the nation and is committed to increasing the impact of our findings by communicating them as broadly as possible.” She also added that “the TRI – Unyos collaboration has the potential to extend the reach of our discoveries to the very people who need but otherwise might not get them.”

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Does Cigarette Smoking Initiate Drug Use?

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on August 8th, 2009

cigarette-smoking-risks

Is cigarette a drug? The obvious answer is “NO”. But cigarette smoking has a direct influence on alcohol and other drug use. Can you ever think of a marijuana or a heroin user who has never smoked cigarette? Drug abuse and alcoholism has been a source of major concern for ages. Today young people are being exposed to drugs at a very tender age. Most of us are concerned with addiction to marijuana, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs and others. But why do we overlook nicotine? It is high time that we deal teenage and adolescent smoking professionally. Since nicotine exposure at an early age increases the vulnerability of other drug use.

Tobacco has often been termed as a “GATEWAY DRUG” since it is the first substance consumed by the teenagers.

Studies conducted to find the origins of alcoholism and addiction to other drugs have indicated that smoking facilitates drug abuse. According to National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), nicotine makes adolescents vulnerable to alcohol and drug addiction by affecting the structural and chemical changes in the brain. As compared to teenagers who do not smoke, smokers are 9 times more likely to meet the medical criteria for past year drug alcohol abuse and 13 times more likely to meet the criteria for drug abuse. In a press release, the Jr. Chairman and President of CASA said, “Smoking by teens may well signal the fire of alcohol and other drug abuse and mental illnesses like depression and anxiety disorders”. One of the studies found that those who started smoking before 12 years of age were 3 times more vulnerable than non-smokers to binge drink, 13 times more likely to smoke marijuana and 7 times more prone to use heroin, cocaine.

Spread the message. Reach out to children. Talk to them about the ill-effects of smoking. Help them in making healthy choices.

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HairConfirm Drug Test Kit

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on August 7th, 2009

hairconfirm test

Are you worried about your child’s changing behavior? Has he become moody, irritable and sluggish? Did you notice a change in his eating and sleeping habits? There could be several such questions that could be a sign of one of the most distressing questions that every parent would love to evade – “Is my child on drugs?”

Often anxious parents call up or visit specialists in the field of drug addiction to get an answer. But since the diagnosis is mostly symptom based, hence there could again be a question hanging on their heads. Several tests on hand have proved to be successful in detecting addiction. But the cooperation of the person concerned becomes the prime obstacle in most cases – especially those who already on drugs. HairConfirm Test is a valuable tool which can overcome this hurdle and help anxious and protective parents to confirm the truth.

The test has already proved its dependability in Britain. Now it is being marketed in the US and is gradually gaining popularity. Two types of tests are available – one covers the recreational drugs and the other covers prescription drugs. The test is based on the fact that illicit substances are embedded in the hair shaft for a longer period and are protected from contamination. Thus the authenticity of the test is much higher than tests that rely on urine sample which can detect drugs only upto three days after its use. It is also easier to obtain a hair shaft measuring 11/2in as close to the scalp as possible, put it in a pre-paid envelope and post it. The results will be available in a password protected website within 48 hours.

A note of warning for parents – please use the test cautiously since it could destroy the trust in the family. Transparency should be maintained to get your child’s support.

Do not be over anxious. Try to assess your child’s behavior in a realistic manner.

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Addiction to Prescription Drugs is on the rise

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Prescription Drug Abuse on July 20th, 2009

The untimely death of pop star Michael Jackson has once again raised the question “Are prescription drugs beneficial or harmful for health?” I believe that a majority of people will speak for the motion. But a few, like me who have had the opportunity to know the reality, will speak against it. Yes, addiction to prescription drugs is scaling up.

Such drugs are definitely useful when used as directed by the physician. But often they are misused – taken in larger doses.

A survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2007 has shown that around 15% of the US high school students abuse prescription drugs. Addiction to such drugs is prevalent mostly among young adults between 18 – 25 years who are unaware of the inherent danger.

The causes are easy availability and a common belief that such drugs are not harmful since they have been prescribed by doctors. “A safe way to get the high” said a senior student.

3 groups of prescribed drugs are generally abused –

• Opioids prescribed for relieving pain e.g. Morphine like Kodian and Avinza, Oxycodone like OxyContin and Percocet.

• Central Nervous System depressants that are used for treating anxiety, sleeplessness, e.g., Barbiturates like Mebaral and Nembutal, Benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax.

• Stimulants that are prescribed to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), obesity, narcolepsy e.g. Detroamphetamine like Dexedrine and Adderall, Methylphenidate like Ritalin and Concerta.

So please be aware of prescribed drugs. Keep in mind the fine line that differentiates between using and abusing such drugs. Remember they are as dangerous as illegal drugs like brown sugar since they are highly addictive and dangerous. Consult a doctor immediately if you feel that someone in your family is abusing prescription drugs.

Take the Tour: http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/prescription_dangerZones.asp

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