Prescription Drugs. What is prescription drug abuse? Taking a prescription drug that is not...
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Transcript of Prescription Drugs. What is prescription drug abuse? Taking a prescription drug that is not...
Prescription Drugs
What is prescription drug abuse?
Taking a prescription drug that is not prescribed for you, or taking it for reasons or in dosages other than as prescribed.
This can lead to serious health effects and addiction
Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
• opioids (for pain), • central nervous system (CNS)
depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders)
• stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy).
Opioids
Reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those brain areas controlling emotion, which diminishes the effects of a painful stimulus
Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
Oxycodone (OxyContin®)
Oxymorphone (Opana®)
Propoxyphene (Darvon®)
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)
Meperidine (Demerol®)
Diphenoxylate (Lomotil®)
Opioids Include:
How do they affect the Body?• Attach to specific proteins called opioid receptors
• found in the brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract, and other
organs in the body.
• Once attached to their receptors, they reduce the perception of pain.
• Can produce drowsiness, mental confusion, nausea, constipation, and, depending upon the amount of drug taken, can depress respiration.
Relaxation
Short Term Effects:
Indifference to emotional or physical pain
DrowsinessConstipation
Slow breathing
Death
Long Term Effects
Highly addictive.
The body builds up tolerance and more is needed to maintain the desired feeling.
Withdrawals can be long and physically painful.
Combining opioids with alcohol and other drugs can lead to death from respiratory failure.
Addiction Facts
Opioids
• Body builds a tolerance• Body can become
dependent and withdrawal (intense flu like symptoms may occur)
• Signs of Addiction:– Craving and loss of control
Stimulants
Prescribed to treat individuals diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
These medications have a paradoxically calming and “focusing” effect on individuals with ADHD. Researchers speculate that because methylphenidate amplifies the release of dopamine, it can improve attention and focus in individuals who have dopamine signals that are weak
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®)
Amphetamines (Adderall®)
Stimulants Include:
• Enhance the effects of these dopamine and norepinephrine (associated w/pleasure and attention) in the brain.
• Increase in dopamine induces a feeling of euphoria when stimulants are taken non-medically.
• They also increase blood pressure and heart rate, constrict blood vessels, increase blood glucose, and open up breathing passages.
What do they do to the body?
Short Term Effects
High body temperature
Alertness
FocusSleeplessness
Loss of appetite
Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Short Term Effects
Alertness Increased blood pressure and heart rate
High body temperature Focus
SleeplessnessLoss of appetite
Addiction FactsStimulants
• If abused a person can become physically and mentally addicted
• Withdrawal from prescription stimulants brings on fatigue, depression and disturbance of sleep. A person taking stimulants over a period of time may experience hostility and paranoia
Central nervous system depressants:
Sometimes called “downers,” these drugs come in
multicolored tablets and capsules or in liquid form.
Amytal, Numbutal and Seconal, are classed as barbiturates—drugs that are used as sedatives and sleeping pills.
Drugs in this category:
Zyprexa, Seroquel and Haldol, are known as “major tranquilizers” or “antipsychotics,” as they are supposed to reduce the symptoms of mental illness.
Xanax, Klonopin, Halcion and Librium are often referred to as “benzos” (short for benzodiazepines).
Short Term Effects
Slow brain functionSlowed pulse and breathingLowered blood pressurePoor concentrationConfusionFatigue2Dizziness
Slurred speechFeverSluggishnessVisual disturbancesDilated pupilsDisorientationlack of coordinationDepressionDifficulty or inability to urinateAddiction
Long Term Effects
Addiction can result, withdrawal can be painful, and the drug may cause seizures and death.
Mixing these depressants with alcohol or other drugs can kill you.
Addiction Facts
CNS - Depressants
• High usage can lead to physical dependence
• It works by slowing the brain's activity, so when someone stops taking a CNS depressant, activity in the brain can rebound and race out of control to the point that seizures can occur.
Name SlangXanax Z-bar, Bricks, BenzosOxycodone Oxy’s, Hillbilly Heroin, Dope, 40s, 20s, 80sValium BluesRitalin Vitamin R, Rid, Rittys, RitsAdderall Beans, Black Beauties, Speed, UppersVicodin VikePercocet PercsSedatives and Tranquilizers Chills Pills, French Friends, Tranqs
Street Names
In 2007, the number of overdose deaths from prescription opioids outnumbered
deaths from heroin and cocaine combined.
Other FactsYouth who abuse
prescription medications are
also more likely to report use of other
drugs.
Abuse of prescription drugs is
highest among young adults aged 18 to 25, with 5.9
percent reporting nonmedical use in the past
month (NSDUH, 2010). Among youth aged 12 to 17, 3.0 percent reported past-month nonmedical use of prescription medications.
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The End