August Is "Medicine Abuse Awareness Month"

Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia announces that Congress has designated August as “Medicine Abuse Awareness Month” in response to the increase in prescription drug abuse and the negative consequences such abuse has on our communities, especially our young people. Drug overdoses are now the second leading cause of accidental deaths (after car accidents), and the abuse of prescription drugs (painkillers and sedatives) is the chief cause of the increase.

If one were to ask most average Americans who are the biggest sources of supply for today’s most dangerous drugs, they would probably give answers including South American drug cartels, criminal neighborhood gangs, or the corner drug dealer. Few would know that one of the biggest sources of supply for dangerous drugs today is our own bathroom medicine cabinet. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing illegal drug problem in America. In the government’s most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans reported having misused controlled-substance prescription drugs for non-medical purposes, with another 4.7 million misusing pain relievers. Prescription drug abuse led all other drug categories in new initiates in 2004 and 2005.

While the national usage trends for all other types of illegal drugs are down substantially since 2001 (23% drop from 2001-2006), the disturbing news is that the non-medical use of prescription painkillers and sedatives is the only category of illicit drug use among youth that has risen on that period. The non-medical use of prescription drugs is now the second largest form of illicit drug abuse in the U.S. as measured by prevalence. These national trends are reflected by what our police and treatment providers are reporting here in New Hampshire. This form of abuse includes illegal diversion, “doctor-shopping”, illicit internet sales, thefts, and simple taking and sharing of medication from the family medicine cabinet.

Misuse of prescription drugs is fast becoming a widely accepted part of teenage culture. Many teens assume that, because the prescription drugs are legal when used properly, they are safe to use even by a person for whom they were not prescribed. In a recent survey, 1 out of 8 teens admitted having abused prescription drugs without a prescription. Almost 40% thought it was acceptable to take prescription medicine without a prescription. 52% said that prescription drugs are easier to get and safer than street drugs.

Another related dangerous youthful trend is the abuse of over the counter cold and cough preparations. Emergency rooms are reporting increased incidents of what teens call “Robotripping,” which is the nickname for the intentional abuse of cough syrup or pills that contain dextroprethorphan. Teens also hold “pharming” parties, where they steal their parents’ medications from the home medicine cabinet, bring them to the party, mix them in a bowl, and then ingest a random handful of pills while drinking alcohol.

The recent national survey found that parents do not think that their children are vulnerable to prescription/over the counter drug abuse. They do not understand the behavior of intentionally abusing medicine to get high. And they think that if their child did abuse medicine it would not be as dangerous as “street drugs.” This is why Congress has focused attention on the problem.

We parents need to be much more vigilant about the medications we keep in our homes. We need to educate ourselves about this form of drug abuse. We need to monitor the number of pills in each prescription bottle, discard them properly as soon as we complete treatment, and take action if we suspect that our kids are stealing and misusing our medications. While the government will continue to attack the problem of illegal drug abuse with a multi-disciplinary approach of education, treatment, and law enforcement, we need to remember that prevention starts in the home. And prevention of prescription/over the counter abuse starts right in our own medicine cabinets.

*Source: usdoj.gov

For more information on drug addiction rehabilitation, over the counter drug abuse, or drug education, call Narconon of Georgia at 1-877-413-3073.
 
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