Prescription drug abuse is increasing yearly. The present level of abuse of particular prescription drugs bothers NIDA scientists. In 2004, about 15 million Americans of age12 and above which is 6.1 percent of the population used prescription drug for nonmedical purposes, as per the study conducted by the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The prescription drugs which are mostly abused by teens are painkillers, antianxiety medications (benzodiazepines), stimulants, and steroids that are very powerful drugs and pose real health risks.
As per the study conducted by NIDA 2004, 9.3 percent of high school seniors accepted they had abused the painkiller Vicodin, which is an alarming number. Also distracting news is that 7.3 percent of 12th graders had abused benzodiazepines relatively once, 5.1 percent had abused Ritalin, and 5 percent accepted they had abused the powerful pain killer OxyContin. Moreover, teens in some communities are involved in dangerous trading affairs and picks up whatever medications they can find like old prescriptions of their own, pills from their families’ medicine cabinet and exchange them.
Generally teens have many myths regarding prescription drugs. Few of them along with facts are:
Myth: Prescription drugs are prescribed by a doctor and a pharmacy, so they are safe.
Fact: If prescription medications are not taken effectively, sensibly and carefully as how the doctor recommended, prescription medicines may land a person in the emergency room or the mortuary.
Myth: It is fine to use a prescription from the medicine cabinet which was prescribed for other person in my family.
Fact: As the medication has been prescribed, it will not indicate that it is correct and safe for all persons. Most of the prescribed medicines are suitable based on patient’s medical history, weight, allergies, etc. So, others' prescription medicines should never be used. It is not safe and considered as illegal.
As per the study conducted by NIDA 2004, 9.3 percent of high school seniors accepted they had abused the painkiller Vicodin, which is an alarming number. Also distracting news is that 7.3 percent of 12th graders had abused benzodiazepines relatively once, 5.1 percent had abused Ritalin, and 5 percent accepted they had abused the powerful pain killer OxyContin. Moreover, teens in some communities are involved in dangerous trading affairs and picks up whatever medications they can find like old prescriptions of their own, pills from their families’ medicine cabinet and exchange them.
Generally teens have many myths regarding prescription drugs. Few of them along with facts are:
Myth: Prescription drugs are prescribed by a doctor and a pharmacy, so they are safe.
Fact: If prescription medications are not taken effectively, sensibly and carefully as how the doctor recommended, prescription medicines may land a person in the emergency room or the mortuary.
Myth: It is fine to use a prescription from the medicine cabinet which was prescribed for other person in my family.
Fact: As the medication has been prescribed, it will not indicate that it is correct and safe for all persons. Most of the prescribed medicines are suitable based on patient’s medical history, weight, allergies, etc. So, others' prescription medicines should never be used. It is not safe and considered as illegal.
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