There are three types of prescription drugs that are commonly abused by young adults:
- Depressants, used to treat sleep disorders and severe anxiety, such as: Klonopin, Nembutal, Soma, Valium, Xanax
- Stimulants, used to treat behavior disorders such as ADHD, such as: Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin
- Opioids (or Painkillers), which are used to treat pain, such as: Vicodin, Tylenol with Codeine, OxyContin, Pecocet
- Over-The-Counter Medications (OTCs) such as Corididin HBP Cough and Cold, Robitussin, Vicks 44 Cough Relief
Abuse of these drugs can cause chemical changes in the brain which is particularly troubling among teens because their brains are still developing. The frontal cortex of the brain, where impulse control, judgment and long-range planning take place, does not fully develop until mid 20s. In the absence of a genuine medical condition and without the advice of a physician, the introduction of a non-prescribed drug into the nervous system at this point in the brain’s development is taking a huge risk.
Prescription drug abuse begins when an individual takes prescription medication for reasons other than prescribed by a doctor or dentist. It can begin by taking the drug beyond the recommended time period or by finding illegal sources for the drug. It can begin by taking someone else’s prescription or experimenting with drugs at a party – often called “pharming.” Drug abuse occurs, in part, because of the misconception that prescription drugs are less harmful than illegal drugs because they are prescribed by doctors. This is simply not true.
Prescription drug abuse begins when an individual takes prescription medication for reasons other than prescribed by a doctor or dentist. It can begin by taking the drug beyond the recommended time period or by finding illegal sources for the drug. It can begin by taking someone else’s prescription or experimenting with drugs at a party – often called “pharming.” Drug abuse occurs, in part, because of the misconception that prescription drugs are less harmful than illegal drugs because they are prescribed by doctors. This is simply not true.
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| Parents. The Anti Drug Marketing Campaign |
- Surveys indicate that abuse of prescription pain medicine is the only form of illicit drug abuse that is increasing among teens.
- Many teens feel that prescription drugs are “safer to use” than street drugs since are prescribed by a physician.
- Teens also feel that prescription drugs are “easier to get than beer,” because prescription medications are easily obtained from friends and family medicine cabinets.
- 70% of people age 12 and older who abuse prescription painkillers say they get them from relatives and friends.
- In Routt County, 1 in 6 teens have abused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime and begin experimenting as early as 7th grade.
- A single large dose of prescription or OTC painkillers or depressants can cause breathing difficulty that can lead to death.
- In 2009, more than twice as many people in Colorado died from prescription drug abuse (445) than from drunk-driving related crashes (158).
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