February 2016 Riverside Brookfield High School CADC Newsletter Prescription Opioid Abuse on the Rise The abuse of opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers is a serious global problem affecting health, social, and economic welfare. It is estimated that between 26 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide. The number of unintentional overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers has soared in the United States, more than quadrupling since 1999. There is also growing evidence to suggest a relationship between increased non-medical use of prescription opioids and heroin abuse. Several factors contribe to the severity of the current prescription drug abuse problem, including increases in the number of prescriptions written and dispensed, greater social acceptability for using medications, and aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies. (continued on p.2) The United States accounts for almost 100 percent of hydrocodone prescriptions and 81 percent oxycodone prescriptions in the world. -NIDA ® rosecrance.org Prescription Drug Facts After marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly abused substances by Americans age 14 and older. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids (for pain), depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy). Every day in the U.S., an average of 2,000 teenagers use prescription drugs with- out a doctors guidance for the first time. Youth who abuse prescription medications are more likely to report use of other drugs. In 2015, 18.3% of 12th grade students reported taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription during their lifetime. Adderall is the most abused prescription drug among 12th graders. Sources: NIDA, Monitoring the Future Study
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February 2016Riverside Brookfield High School
CADCNewsletter
Prescription Opioid Abuse on the RiseThe abuse of opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relieversis a serious global problem affecting health, social, and economicwelfare. It is estimated that between 26 million and 36 millionpeople abuse opioids worldwide. The number of unintentionaloverdose deaths from prescription pain relievers has soared in the United States, more than quadrupling since 1999. There is alsogrowing evidence to suggest a relationship between increased non-medical use of prescription opioids and heroin abuse.
Several factors contribe to the severity of the current prescription drug abuse problem, including increases in the number of prescriptionswritten and dispensed, greater social acceptability for usingmedications, and aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies.(continued on p.2)
The United States accounts for almost 100 percent of hydrocodone prescriptions and 81 percent oxycodone prescriptions in the world. -NIDA
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rosecrance.org
Prescription Drug FactsAfter marijuana and alcohol, prescription drugs are the most commonly abusedsubstances by Americans age 14 and older.
The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids (for pain), depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy).
Every day in the U.S., anaverage of 2,000 teenagers use prescription drugs with-out a doctors guidance for the first time.
Youth who abuse prescription medications are more likely to report use of other drugs.
In 2015, 18.3% of 12th grade students reported taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription during their lifetime.
Adderall is the most abused prescription drug among 12th graders.
Sources: NIDA, Monitoring the Future Study
Opioids act by attaching to proteins called opioid receptors, which are found on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body. When these drugs attach to their receptors, theyreduce the perception of pain and can produce a sense of well-being. They can also produce drowsi-ness, mental confusion, and nausea.
Because prescription opioids act on the same brain systems as heroin and morphine, they present an abuse and addiction liability, particularly if they are used for non-medical purposes. They are most dan-gerous and addictive when taken via methods that increase their euphoric effects, such as crushing pills and then snorting or injecting the powder, or combin-ing the pills with alcohol or other drugs.
Repeated administration of opioid drugs can cause physical dependence. Over time, greater amounts of the drug become necessary to produce the same effect. When the person stops taking the drugs, the body needs time to recover, and withdrawal symp-toms result. This tolerance contributes to the high risk of overdose during a relapse to opioid use after a period in recovery; users who do not realize they may have lost their tolerance during a period of abstinence may initially take the high dosage that they previously had used before quitting.
Growing Evidence suggests that abusers of pre-scription opioids are shifting to heroin as prescription drugs become less available or harder to abuse and heroin is cheaper and in some communities easier to obtain. (America’s Addiction to Opioids: Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse, NIDA, 2014)
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medication if you are unsure of its effects.
• Keep your doctor informed of all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medications.
• Read the information your pharmacist provides before starting to take medications.
• Take your medications only as prescribed.
• Keep all prescription medications secured at all times and properly dispose of any unused medications.
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• 207 million prescriptions for opioid pain relievers were dispensed by U.S. retail pharmacies in 2013.
• The estimated number of emergency depart- ment visits involving nonmedical use of opioid medications increased from 144,600 in 2004 to 305,900 in 2008
• Overdose deaths due to prescription opioid pain relievers have more than tripled in the past 20 years.
• It has been estimated that the nonmedical use of opioid pain relievers costs insurance companies up to $72.5 billion annually in health- care costs.
• An estimated 2.1 million people in the U.S. suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers.
• Treatment admissions for primary abuse of opiates other than heroin increased from one percent of all admissions in 1997 to five percent in 2007
PEERx is an online educational initiative to discourage abuse of prescription drugs among teens. A component of NIDA for Teens, PEERx provides science-based information aboutprescription drug abuse prevention. The initiative focuses on interactive, hands-on activities and step-by-step instructions make each activity easy to implement. For more information, visit:teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx
Prescription Stimulants:Drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta have become popular among college students as a study aid to help them stay up longer.Students going to school full-time between the ages of 18 and 22 are 2 times as likely to have used Adderall recreationally. When abused, these drugs can cause increased heart rate, reduced appetite, nervousness, insomnia,seizures, heart attack, and stroke.(National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
Prescription Depressants:Drugs such as Valium and Xanax are prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders. When abused, these drug can cause confusion, dizziness, and impared coordination and memory. Healtheffects include, low blood pressure, slowed breathing, tolerance and addiction. Depressants should not be combined with prescription pain medicines, certain over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, or alcohol. If combined, they can slow both the heart rate and breathingincreasing the risk of overdose and death.
Other Prescription Drugs of Abuse
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Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a synthetically produced opioid that is chemically related to codeine. DXM is most often found in over-the-counter cough and cold medicines such as Robitussin, Mucinex and Coricidin. Some teens mix DXM with soda, and it’s often paired with marijuana and alcohol. At small doses, DXM can feel like mild drunken-ness, but larger doses can cause hallucinations.Physical signs of abuse may include, nausea, high blood pressure, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, numbness, headaches, seizures, dizziness, slurred speech, dry/itchy skin, dilated pupils/bloodshot eyes, shallow breathing, chills or sweating. Behavioral signs may include, Irritability, hostility, paranoia, mood swings, change in sleep patterns, inability to focus in conversation, or inappropriate laughter.Other signs to look for are empty cough and cold medicine packagesor bottles, medicines missing from family supply, and medicinal odoron breath. Long-term abuse carries the potential for permanent brain damage, liver failure, stroke, coma and/or death. Download the fullbrochure and more at rosecrance.org/resources-parents.
