Pharm Parties Lead to Prescription Drug Addiction

Parties Teens Attend Can Be Deadly

You may not know this, but seven of the top ten drugs being abused by teenagers today are legal prescriptions or over-the-counter medications.

What does this have to do with your teen?

Let’s say you have teenagers.

They say that they are going to a friend’s house for a party. You, reminded of the drunken “keggers” you went to as a teenager, ask if there will be alcohol. They say no. You breathe a sigh of relief and give permission.

They come back, obviously intoxicated, but you don’t smell any alcohol, or marijuana. They haven’t been drinking, but something is wrong.

Welcome to the world of the Pharm Party.

The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug  Rehab in Georgia warns that while alcohol is still the drug most abused by teenagers, pharma parties are becoming the rage.

“ Teens will raid their parents’ or grandparents’ medicine cabinet, take Oxycontins, Percocets, Valiums, Xanax, and a get together with their friends,” warns Mary Rieser, Executive Director Of The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia. “They will mix and match their drugs, which is of course very dangerous. Soon they become drug addicts and this starts the dwindling spiral. Parent’s can’t figure out what happened.”

Prescription drug abuse among adolescents is at an all time high.

There is little wonder as Big Pharma keeps pushing drugs as the panacea for all ills. One example is Purdue Pharma, the makers of Oxycontin. Despite heavy fines for failing to label Oxycontin as highly addicted, Oxycontin sales still exceed $9.6 billion from 2000 to 2006.

Kids today can get their hands on practically anything. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America did a survey in 2005 that revealed 19% of U.S. teenagers (about 4.5 million) had taken prescription stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall, or painkillers Vicodin and OxyContin for the purpose of getting high. According to a University of Michigan study, Vicodin and OxyContin are now more popular among high school seniors than cocaine and Ecstasy, beat out only by marijuana.

“While prescription drugs can be a God-send for someone who is sick, all too often these are misplaced or abused not only by the person, but by members of their family,” comments Ms. Rieser. “Unfortunately there is a myth among youngsters that these are not harmful drugs, as they were prescribed by the doctor, and Mom or Dad took them, so they can’t be all bad. This kind of mindset among adolescents can kill them. They become drug addicts and ruin their lives.”

How to fight drug addiction in your own family?

1. Keep careful track of all prescription medications. Once you are done throw away the rest.
2. Keep prescriptions locked up. Although your children may not abuse them, their friends may come over and take them.
3. Educate your children on drugs and drug abuse.
4. Be aware of the signs of drug abuse in your family.
5. Communicate. Keep in good communication with your children on the type of parties they go to, who their friends are, and what is going on in their life.

“Adolescence can be a difficult time for children,” comments Ms. Rieser. “If children don’t have someone they can talk to, someone they can trust, it is all too easy to go down the wrong path.”

The Atlanta Recovery Center of Georgia is a non-traditional drug abuse treatment program. The Atlanta Recovery Center was founded in 1967, and its mission also includes drug education and working with children.  While many drug rehab statistics are nebulous, The Atlanta Recovery Center boasts a 76% success rate (based on a two year follow-up) through a non-traditional drug treatment program.  This program provides body detoxification through a sauna and exercise program that helps eliminate or reduce cravings. After the sauna program, the client learns those life skills essential to success in life and the ability to stay clean.  They graduate from The Atlanta Recovery Center with a life plan and continued support to make sure they make it in life.