Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse

Years ago, the common image of an adolescent drug abuser was a teen trying to escape from reality on illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, or marijuana. Today, there is a great discrepancy between that perception and the reality of who is likely to abuse drugs. A teenage drug abuser might not have to look any further than his or her parent’s medicine chest to ‘score.’ Prescription drug abuse by teens is on the rise. Also, teens are looking to prescription drugs to fulfill different needs other than to feel good or escape the pressures of adulthood. Teens may be just as likely to resort to drugs with ‘speedy’ side effects, like Ritalin to help them study longer, as they are to use prescription

Millions of people throughout the world are taking drugs on a daily basis. If you were to ask someone why they take prescription drugs, most people would be taking them for the right reason. However, it’s estimated that twenty percent of people in the United States alone have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.1 Prescription drug abuse is a serious and growing problem that often goes unnoticed. Abusing these drugs can often lead to addiction and even death. You can develop an addiction to certain drugs that may include: narcotic painkillers, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants.1 Prescription drugs are the most common abused category of drugs, right next to marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and

Three decades from now, T.L.O., a student at a New Jersey High School was caught smoking in a school restroom, and was brought to the assistant principal’s office. The 14-years-old teenager denied smoking, so the assistant principal persisted in searching her purse and found cigarettes, and rolling paper which is associated with marijuana (T.L.O. vs. New Jersey). Nothing has changed since then. If you look a little closer, you can see teenagers lying around doing drugs here and there. They are no longer determined to succeed in life; instead all they can think about is where the next supply of cocaine will come from. What has our future come to? Research done by scientists and other professionals provide evidence that substance abuse by teenagers is an ever-growing problem due to teen’s poor judgement, it’s irreparable damage, and inability to compete with drug addiction.

The very same items a doctor prescribes to help people get well might be making them sick. Prescription drugs are being taken for reasons other than the ones they are being prescribed for, fueling an addiction that impacts as many as 48 million Americans ("Prescription Drug Abuse" WebMD). According to MedLinePlus, "an estimated 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons. This is prescription drug abuse." While a considerable amount of time, resources, and attention are focused on the problems associated with illicit drugs, prescription drug abuse is "an increasing problem," with very serious consequences for individuals, families, and communities (MayoClinic Staff). The United States Office of National Drug Control Policy claims, "Prescription drug abuse is the Nation's fastest-growing drug problem, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic." Because prescription drugs are viewed as safe due to their being part of the doctor's pharmacopeia, the same psychological, legal, ethical, and social barriers to abuse might not be present. However, prescription drug abuse creates a wide range of problems, including dangerous or lethal side effects, long-term addiction, and the dismantling of family and community

es and non-prescription drug abuse among minors with the misguided insight that their use is safer than the illegal drugs. Through an online survey, the researchers collect data on the issue and correlate with specific variables such as community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs. The authors discover a positive correlation. This study will aid in gaining an in-depth understanding of the exact nature of relation between community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs to drug abuse in the society. It will serve as viable literature in identifying the various ways and procedures to limit and observe the access of these drugs to adolescents. 2. Goebel, J. R., Compton, P., Zubkoff, L., Lanto, A., Asch, S. M., Sherbourne,

Fleary et al. (2010) explores the degree to which prescription and non-prescription drug abuse among minors with the misguided insight that their use is safer than the illegal drugs. Through an online survey, the researchers collect data on the issue and correlate with specific variables such as community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs. The authors discover a positive correlation. This study will aid in gaining an in-depth understanding of the exact nature of relation between community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs to drug abuse in the society. It will serve as viable literature in identifying the various ways and procedures to limit and observe the access of these drugs to adolescents.

Prescription drug use has been rising in the past decade steadily. There are no signs of it slowing down either. In 1999-2000 people who have taken one prescription drug rose from 43.5% to 48.3%. The use of two or more prescription drugs rose from 25.4% to 31.2%. Also the use of five or more prescription drugs has risen from 6.3% to 10.7%.

Valdez, A. (2014). Rx for injury: Adolescent Prescription Drug Misuse. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 40(5), 497-9. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy-kutztown.klnpa.org/10.1016/j.jen.2014.05.011

The audience I will be addressing is parents, caregivers and school educators about the dangers of prescription drugs and how we can better educate teenagers and young adults on the dangers of abusing them. There are many ways that we can teach and educate our teenagers and young adults, but it’s important that families, schools and communities are involved. The rate of prescription drug overdose among teenagers and young adults have sky rocketed over the past several years. This has become a growing epidemic and if we don’t step in and do something, this problem will only get worse. No parent or caregiver ever wants to lose a child and it can be especial harder knowing that you could have helped prevent it. Some people

Prescription drugs such as opioids, stimulants, and sedatives are being used appropriately for medical reasons, however fifty-two million people have used these drugs for non-medical reasons (Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), 2012). Unfortunately, it has been realized that this issue is becoming an epidemic, and that seventy-eight people are dying each day from prescription overdoses setting a record high in 2014 and beating out

Non prescribed prescription drug use by adolescents is a major concern. There are many dangers associated with this abuse that teens are not aware of and many teens do not realize the effects these drugs will have on their body and mind as they continue to mature. Most teens use these drugs for recreational purposes such as a study aid to help them stay awake. These teens do not realize that these drugs are just as dangerous as illegal street drugs.

Doesn’t matter what age, drugs are going to be used and abuse. From the time we are born, till the day we die, prescription drugs are prescribed for doctor approved use. Most prescription drugs are given to help control a disease, an imbalance, sickness, etc. With teenage drug abuse on the rise in most US high schools, it has become a problem parents are facing amongst their children. Being a parent to a teenager who has meddled with prescription drugs has been an unbelievable eye opener. Teens know who they get these drugs from; fellow students, friends, their parents cabinets, etc. Educating parents and discussing the risks with teens about the effects prescription drugs can cause is important to helping

Teens are consequently affected by prescription medication due to its influence amongst teens and like many other drugs it’s commonly used for profitable reasons, which could lead to prison time for several years. Non- medical use of prescription drugs amongst teens are alarmingly high, parents and their teens are often blindsided by the illegal risk that come from misusing prescription drugs along with any other drug for that matter. According to “U.S War On Drugs” Statistics have shown that OxyContin is legally classified as a narcotic, or if use of Vicodin it’s classified as an opioid as in heroin, which means these drugs could lead up to years of punishment in prison along with over $1,000 dollar fine. According to the “National Institute

No matter what type of medication a person takes, there will always be negative side effects. One has to learn to understand when the benefits outweigh the costs. With adolescents 12-25 the costs outweigh the benefits. Prescription and OTC (over the counter) drugs are the most abused drugs, after marijuana and alcohol, in both America and Canada. Article 1 and 6. One in twelve high school seniors reported past year nonmedical use of Vicodin and one in twenty reported using Oxycontin (https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/director, par.1). In 2004 the FDA adopted a “black box” label warning, the most serious type of warning, and issued a public warning

The role of the research is to search the method of drugs use prevention among student. Drugs are substances that change a person's physical or mental state. The vast majority of drugs are used to treat medical conditions, both physical and mental. Some, however, are used outside the medical setting for their effects on the mind (what is drug, 2016). The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of drug use among student. The prevention strategy to decrease percentage among student also investigate.