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**Prescription Drug Abuse **
Although most prescriptions are written for people who have a true medical need, drug abuse has increased as they have become easier to obtain. Many households have old prescription bottles around the house and teens often believe they are safe alternatives to illegal drugs. Unfortunately prescription drugs are easily addictive because the medication associated with them activates the brains reward center. It is just like nicotine, smokers know it is bad for them but they continue smoking anyways. Our focus will be on the general symptoms of abusers, the most commonly used prescription drugs, problems with youth and prescription drug abuse, and finally some preventative measures. **Definition of Prescription Drug Abuse** Prescription Drug Abuse is the use of prescription drugs in ways not intended by the prescribing doctor. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse(CCSA) "it is associated with increased risk for harm, as characterized by obtaining drugs from illegitimate sources, or risky patterns of use, for purposes that are not therapeutic." It can include everything from taking a friends prescription painkiller for a backache to snorting ground up pills to get high. The most commonly used being painkillers, sedatives and stimulants.


 * General Symptoms **


 * Seeking prescriptions from more than one doctor
 * Taking higher doses despite warnings
 * Stealing, or selling Prescriptions
 * Excessive mood swings
 * Continually "losing" prescriptions, so more can be written

**Most commonly used: **The CCSA details that virtually any prescription drugs can be consumed for reasons other than its medical purpose: however they go on to say that it is usually drugs with psychotropic properties that are the focus of abuse. Some of the more prescription drugs for abuse include opiate-based drugs for pain relief, tranquillizers, stimulants, and amphetamines, and sedatives and barbiturates.

Some of the negative symptoms/complications/withdrawal associated with prescription painkillers/sedatives/stimulants include; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">**__ Painkiller- __** Opiods (OxyContin) and Hydrocodone (Vicodin) <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">**Symptoms-** Constipation, depression, low blood pressure, decreased heart rate, confusion
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Complications- ** Increased risk of choking, loss of menstral periods and fertility, slowed breathing rate, potential for breathing to stop
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Withdrawal- ** Buprenorphine, Methadone and Catapres may be used to ease withdrawal

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">__<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">** <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Sedatives - ** __ Diazepam (Valium) and Lorazepam (Ativan) <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">**Withdrawal-** Mood stabilizing drugs are critical in the withdrawal
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Symptoms- ** Drowsiness, Confusion, unsteady gait, impaired judgment, rapid eye movement
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Complications- ** Memory problems, abnormal temperature regulation, overdose can cause coma or death

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">**Symptoms-** Weight loss, agitation, irritability, insomnia,high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat
 * __<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Stimulants- __** Methylphenidate (Ritlan)
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Complications- ** Hallucinations, seizures or tremors, increased risk of stroke
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Withdrawal- ** Treatment focuses on relieving withdrawal symptoms such as sleep, appetite and mood disturbances

<span style="color: rgb(36, 61, 229);">According to the CCSA, diversion of prescription drugs away from legitimate use can occur in many ways, including;


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">"Double-doctoring" or "doctor-shopping"- obtaining multiple prescriptions from different physicians;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Prescription pad theft and tampering resulting in forged or altered prescriptions;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Physician fraud- fraudulent prescriptions written by doctors in return for money;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Purchases from friends, relatives, or dealers from whom the drug has been legitimately prescribed;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Diversion of drugs from substance abuse treatment programs( for example, methadone);
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Diversion form supplies intended for patients in health care facilities;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Break-ins and theft from homes, doctors' offices, pharmacies, manufacturers, wholesalers, courier companies, clinics and hospitals;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Purchase of drugs on the internet.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">There are few Canadian statistics on the number of people who abuse prescription drugs, but the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says available evidence suggests Canadians are among the heaviest consumers of psychotropic medication in the world. And a recent study found indications that non-medicinal use of prescription opioids is increasingly replacing heroin.


 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(0, 110, 255);">Youth and Prescription Drug Abuse **



Prescription Drug abuse among youth is a growing concern among teens that is on the rise. Parents may think of locking up their liqueur cabinets, but maybe they should be doing the same with their medicine cabinets. A variety of pills are readily available to teens and too often old and un-used prescriptions medications are kept and stored. Today their seems to be a new trend towards the use and abuse of prescription drugs with youth. They seem to be unaware of the dangers and see it as on option for getting high or as a source of entertainment.

In an article in USA Today it discusses how "drug counselors across the USA are beginning to hear about pill-popping parties, which are part of a rapidly developing underground culture that surrounds the rising abuse of prescription drugs by teens and young adults. It's a culture with its own lingo: Bowls and baggies of random pills often are called "trail mix," on the internet chat sites, collecting pills from the family medicine cabinet chest is called "pharming"

Carol Falkowski, director of research communications for the Hazelden Foundation, says young abusers of prescription drugs also have begun using the Internet to share "recipes" for getting high. Some websites are so simplistic, she says, that they refer to pills by color, rather than their brand names, content or potency. That, Falkowski says, could help explain why emergency rooms are reporting that teens and young adults increasingly are showing up overdosed on bizarre and potentially lethal combinations of pills. Overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs accounted for about one-quarter of the 1.3 million drug-related emergency room admissions in 2004, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported last month."

The graph below illustrates the statistics of lifetime non medical users of selected pain relievers among persons 12 and older: 2002-2003, reported in an article by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.



The following video furthermore discusses some facts about youth and prescription drug abuse;

media type="google" key="3993318655661523290&hl=en&fs=true" width="400" height="326" (Source: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3993318655661523290 ) <span style="color: rgb(0, 110, 255);"> Prevention reduces the likelihood of prescription drug abuse by taking thorough followups and knowing the histories of the people they have prescribed these drugs to. The federal government recommends flushing opioid painkillers down the toilet and other unused medication should be mixed with coffee grounds or kitty litter and then disposed in the trash. Potentially addictive prescriptions should be in a locked cabinet
 * __ Prevention __**

Drug manufacturers are investigating the ways in which commonly abused drugs can be less addictive. The approaches being studied include: <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 110, 255);">What is being done to monitor, minimize and prevent drug abuse in Canada? The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, in partnership with Health Canada's Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Program, have developed a national framework for action to reduce the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs and substances. One of the framework priorities focuses on preventing the abuse of prescription drugs. Health Canada has recently convened a number of workshops with Canadian experts to identify and develope solutions for the problem of diversion and abuse of prescription drugs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">**Controlled-release drugs-** S lowing the speed at which drugs enter the brain appears to reduce the effect that the drugs have on the brains reward center.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">**Aversive ingredients-** A dding secondary ingredients to drug formulations can provoke unpleasant side effects if the dose is to high, or if the pills are ground up and snorted or injected because the delivery system would be much more likely to result into an addiction.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 128);">Digestive enzymes- ** Some drugs eventually require exposure to digestive enzymes to be addictive. This would greatly reduce the chances of these pills being taken in any way other than by mouth.

In general although 9 out of 10 provinces currently have some form of system for tracking prescription-related information, the most advanced systems are found in Alberta(WellNet), British Columbia(PharmaNet), Manitoba(DPIN), and Prince Edward Island (Pharmacy Network). Accoring to the CCSA these systems monitor prescription duplication and double-doctoring. Hopefully the rest of the country will follow suit and maybe this will help spread more awareness and education on the issue.

<span style="color: rgb(0, 110, 255); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">How can you help prevent prescription drug misuse or abuse? **
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Keep your doctor informed about all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medications.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Take your medication(s) as prescribed.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Read the information your pharmacist provides before starting to take medications.
 * <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medication, especially if you are unsure about its effects.

__**Discussion Questions**__

1) What are some things that surprised you on the topic of prescription drug abuse? 2) What can you do to prevent prescription drug abuse from happening to you or others that you know?

(2007). Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse: Prescription Drug Abuse FAQ's. Retrieved March 25th from http://www.ccsa.ca/2007%20CCSA%20Documents/ccsa-011519-2007.pdf
 * __Work Cited__**

(2003).Graph from The National Institute on Drug Use: Statistics of lifetime non medical users of selected pain relievers among persons 12 and older Retrieved March 25th from http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol19N4/BBoard.html

(2006). Leinwand, D .USA Today:Prescription Drugs Find a Place in teen Culture. Retrieved March 25th from http://www.usatoday.com/news/health2006-06-12-teens-pharm- drugs_x.html

(2007). Mayo Clinic: Prescription Drug Abuse. Retrieved March 25the from []

(2009). The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Retrieved February 19th from []

Video on youth and prescription dug abuse. Retrieved March 25th from http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=399318655661523290