Prescription Drug Awareness!
description
Transcript of Prescription Drug Awareness!
Prescription Drug Awareness!
Our Goals Familiarize with commonly abused meds Inform about the hazards of addiction and
abuse Provide convincing statistics Increase awareness of the world of
medications
General Statistics 1 in 5 teenagers report having abused a
prescription medication Over 2500 teenagers a day experiment with
prescription medications taken from the home
In 2009 in the United States about 21% of high school students have taken prescription drugs without a prescriptionTaken from WHO
UCI Statistics: Did You Know?
Do you know a UCI student who has taken prescription A.D.D./A.D.H.D. drugs that were not intended for him/her? Freshman: 52% Sophomores: 36% Juniors: 47% Seniors:
58%
Do you know someone who has required the aid of rehab services due to any prescription drug abuse? Freshman: 18% Sophomores: 14% Juniors: 22% Seniors:
15%
Do you know someone who has died due to any prescription drug abuse? Freshman: 6% Sophomores: 5% Juniors: 8% Seniors: 6%
Addiction and Abuse: Definitions
Addiction: physical and psychological dependence on a substance “Disease of brain reward”
Abuse: use of prescription drugs that were not prescribed by a physician or used only for the experience or feeling they cause Also called drug misuse
Pain Killers (Often Opioids)
Binds to opioid receptors in NS and GI tract Decreased perception, decreased reaction,
and increased tolerance to pain HIGHLY abused Morphine, hydrocodone, codiene,
oxycodone, fentanyl, propoxyphene, tramadol
Vicodin (hydrocodone) Vicodin is a combination of
hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Cheap and overly prescribed (easy to obtain)
Americans spend over $484 billion annually in vicodin addictions.
Vicodin use and addiction is linked to at least half of the major crimes in the US
~10-22% of car crashes involve drivers who use drugs such as Vicodin (NHTSA)
Vicodin addiction showcased in popular television series House
Antidepressants/Anxiety
Mostly SSRIs and SNRIs Inhibit the reuptake of serotonin/
norepinephrine for repeated receptor stimulation
Sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, buproprion
Zoloft (sertraline) Used to treat major
depression as well as OCD and anxiety disorders
Overly prescribed, easy for teenagers to steal from parents
Risk of dependency, suicide, reduced libido
Amphetamines/Psychostimulants
Affect levels of dopamine in the brain “study drugs”: enhances focus,
concentration, attentiveness, confidence, self-esteem
Heavily misused by students Adderall, vyvanse, desoxyn, ritalin
Adderall (amphetamine salts)
Prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy
Side effects: greatly increases bp, decreased appetite, akathisia, amphetamine psychosis (heavy abuse)
Performance-enhancing use Weight-loss use High risk of dependency
Ritalin (methylphenidate)
Also prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy
Extensive side effects; hypersensitivity, dyskinesia, tachycardia
High potential for abuse and addiction
Abuse highest among college students (study longer, party longer)
Prevention Medical lock boxes for
home use to prevent unauthorized access to prescription drugs Doesn’t fix anything;
EDUCATE teens about the perils of abuse
Keep in Mind Misuse of these drugs is illegal and will
result in imprisonment and fines (varying severity)
Many harmful drug interactions; makes abuse even more hazardous
Abuse is widespread; hospital, dentistry, pharmacy
Check out our video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9FN2Do
4uoM