Pharm Parties or Not: Prescription Drugs Abused

There has been some debate whether so called "pharm parties" or "pharming parties" do or don't occur. These pharma parties are reportedly where teenagers raid their parents' medicine cabinet, get together, and mix and share whatever pills they can find: Oxycontins®, Percocets®, sleep aids such as Ambien®, benzo's such as Xanax®, cough medicine, Coricidin®.

Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia, as part of National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, warns parents about the dangers of prescription medications and non-prescription medications that can be abused by teenagers.

"Some parents are not aware of any 'pharma parties' in their area," states Mary Rieser, Executive Director in Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia. "The fact remains that teens and pre-adolescents do steal medicine from the family medicine cabinet. They do abuse these. They share. They get addicted."

Many people attending Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia admit they have raided medicine cabinets. One admits, "I used to steal Oxycontins® from my grandmother's medicine cabinet. She never knew."

Another states, "After getting high on cocaine, my parent's Xanax® prescription helped me calm down. Then I got addicted to Xanax®."

Ms. Rieser states: "Check your medicine cabinets and dispose of any drugs not currently used. This includes any cough medicine, which contains DXM and can get children high.

"Don't leave opiates such as Oxycontin® or Percocets® unattended. Be aware of any unusual behavior in your teens. The 2005 Partnership survey found that more than three in five teens can easily get prescription painkillers from their parents' medicine cabinets. The DEA statistics show that prescription drugs are the fastest growing drug trend in America today.

"We have had people come into Narconon Drug Rehab with heroin addictions that developed this addiction from an Oxycontin®. Heroin is less expensive. However people get hooked on Oxycontin®, legally prescribed by a doctor or illegally gotten off the streets, people will often run out of funds to purchase the expensive drug. When this happens, they may turn to heroin, simply because it is less expensive. The addict has a terrible withdraw from the Oxycontin®, and most of the time, will do whatever it takes to avoid withdraw symptoms.

"Another way of obtaining illegal prescription drugs is through the internet. Recent investigations show that 85% of online pharmacies don't require a prescription in order to fill an order.

"Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia is a non-traditional drug rehab facility. Once going through our Sauna Detox program, the cravings for Oxycontin® are reduced, if not completely eliminated, according to our students. If you suspect that someone you know is abusing Oxycontin® or any other prescription drug, call us. We can help."

Copyright @ 2008. Narconon of Georgia Inc.(www.drugsno.com) Call 1-877-413-3073. All rights reserved. Narconon and the Narconon Logo are trademarks and service marks owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission. Narconon of Georgia is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation.