Drug addiction and misuse has been of higher rate for some time now. Are you one of those?
Several reports indicate a growing number of youths and a suprising number ofolder people are misusing prescription drugs in an effort to calm down, cope with anxiety, stay alert, lose weight, or experience a high. Some of the most frequently abused drugs are those found in many homes: pain relievers, sedatives, stimulants and tranquilizers. Abused products also include such over-the-counter drugs as sleeping aids, decongestants, and allergy pills.
“Drug addiction is characterized by compulsive use, use for non-medical purposes, and continued use despite harm or risk of harm,” says the Physicians’ Desk Reference. Addiction is characterized by lack of control and obsession with the drug.
Physical dependence is evident when parents develop withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking a certain prescribed drug, such as an opioid. This is a normal reaction and is not the same as addiction.
Tolerance refers to the need for an increased dosage in order to obtain the same degree of pain relief.
The problem is both wide spread and growing. In parts of Africa, Europe, and South Asia, for example, the abuse of prescription drugs is overtaking that of street drugs.
How can you protect yourself and family from the abuse of drugs-prescription or illicit?
Why the fascination with prescription drugs? One reason is availability-they may be right there in the home. Second, many young people wrongly assume that they are not doing anything illegal when they take medicinal drugs without prescription. And third, prescription drugs seem less toxic than their illicit counterparts. ‘After all,’ some youths reason, if a child can take certain prescrisbed products, the products must be safe.’
Granted, when properly used, prescribed medication may improve health and the quality of life and even save lives. But misused, it can be as unsafe as street drugs. For example, when a person abuses a certain prescription stimulants, he may bring on a heart failure or seizures. Other products can lower a person’s breathing rate and ultimately cause death.
Another potential danger is addiction. When taken in excessive amounts or for the wrong reason, some substances act like street drugs- they stimulate pleasure centers in the brain, which can lead to a craving for the substance.
To stop these abuse and misuse, parents should talk openly with their children about the dangers of taking drugs-prescribed or illicit. Also, keep prescriptions in a safe place- perhaps even locking the medicine cabinet or keeping all medicine out of their reach. Know what you have on hand, and monitor usage. If a drug is no longer needed, safely discard it. If a teen is over his/her cough but is still taking medicine, ask him about it. Finally, be alert to any changes in his/her associates, appearance or behavior or to any sudden drop in school grades.
Sources: Article - Awake! Pictures - Getty Images
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