Another Reason to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse: Saving Young Children’s Lives

A new study just published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine notes that thousands of children aged five and under have been poisoned by prescription painkillers in the last few years. Eight of these children died and 43 suffered life-threatening injuries. Another 214 experienced moderate effects.

Drugs included in the study were opioid painkillers such as oxydcodone, hydrocodone, and methadone. Opioid drugs are similar to opiate narcotics such as morphine but are not derived from opium. Another drug in the list was buprenorphine, a newer drug used in the treatment of opioid addiction.

Opioids can cause such a suppression of the respiratory system that young children simply stop breathing. The rapid growth in the number of prescriptions in the last decade means that tens of millions of households have opioid painkillers present, increasing the threat to young, curious children.

“Opioid pain relievers can provide a better quality of life for those in severe pain, but they are also addictive,” stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead in Oklahoma. Narconon is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, offering a full range of services from in-patient rehabilitation to free consultations to those struggling with addiction and referrals to treatment programs. “If a person finds they can’t quit taking these drugs when they are no longer needed, that person needs help to overcome that addiction.  Every household that can be freed from opioid pain relievers is a household that is safer for young children.”

Opioid painkillers are not only dangerous to young children. Older children seeking substances to abuse commonly obtain prescription medications from family members. Leftover prescriptions and medications stored in medicine chests or purses are the primary source for teens who abuse prescription drugs.

“The best answer is to dispose of prescription drugs once they are not needed any more, and don’t take them if you don’t have to,” added Mr. Hallmark. “This protects everyone in the household, even the person for whom the drugs were prescribed.

For more information on the rehabilitation and educational services of Narconon Arrowhead, call 1-800-468-6933 today or visit the website www.stopaddiction.com. The Narconon program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez in Arizona State Prison, and is based on the humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120 centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.