Kaohi:Prescription Drug Abuses when gotten from illegally can cause addiction and lots of brain damages!

Brief Description

Prescription drug abuse means taking a prescription medication that is not prescribed for you, or taking it for reasons or in dosages other than as prescribed. Abuse of prescription drugs can produce serious health effects, including addiction. Commonly abused classes of prescription medications include opioids (for pain), central nervous system depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy). Opioids include hydrocodone (Vicodin®), oxycodone (OxyContin®), propoxyphene (Darvon®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), meperidine (Demerol®), and diphenoxylate (Lomotil®). Central nervous system depressants include barbiturates such as pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal®), and benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®). Stimulants include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®), and amphetamines (Adderall®).

Street Names

oxy, cotton, blue, 40, 80 (OxyContin®)

Effects

Long-term use of opioids or central nervous system depressants can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Opioids can produce drowsiness, constipation and, depending on amount taken, can depress breathing. Central nervous system depressants slow down brain function; if combined with other medications that cause drowsiness or with alcohol, heart rate and respiration can slow down dangerously. Taken repeatedly or in high doses, stimulants can cause anxiety, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, or seizures.

Statistics and Trends

In 2009, 16 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 2.7% of 8th graders, 7.7% of 10th graders, and 8.0% of 12th graders had abused Vicodin and 2.1% of 8th graders, 4.6% of 10th graders, and 5.1% of 12th graders had abused OxyContin for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site).

Related Publications

Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications (InfoFacts)

Published Jun 2009.
Provides an overview of commonly abused prescription drugs—opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants—and explains how they affect the brain, treatments available, and reported use.En Español

Stimulant ADHD Medications - Methylphenidate and Amphetamines (InfoFacts)

Revised Jun 2009.
Offers basic facts about stimulant ADHD medications—methylphenidate and amphetamines—including their role in the treatment of ADHD, their affect on the brain, and the extent of abuse.En Español

Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction (Research Reports)

Published Jul 2001. Revised Oct 2011.
Examines the non-medical use of prescription drugs-opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants-describing adverse health effects of their use and the prevention and treatment of addiction.En Español

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs Chart

Published Sep 2002. Revised Oct 2011.
Offers a list prescription drugs commonly abused, including depressants, opioids and morphine derivatives, and stimulants, and provides their common and street names, how they are generally administered, and their potential health effects.

Prescription Drug Abuse (Mind Over Matter)

Published Jan 2009.
Explains how prescription drugs, when used improperly, can cause addiction and other harmful health problems.En Español

After Cannabis, Nonmedical use of the Prescriptions and Over-the-Counter Medications Account for Most of the Commonly Abused Drugs in 12th Graders (in the past year)

Prescription Drug Abuse (Topics in Brief)

Revised Dec 2011.
Provides a brief overview of the non-medical use of prescription drugs, examining prevalence, health risks associated with use, treatment options, and research underway on the topic.

Replies

Kaohi Mendiola-Kaniaupio February 1, 2012 at 6:59am

You keep working at it because you care about our people!
Kaohi Mendiola-Kaniaupio February 1, 2012 at 5:24am

Are schools are riddled with experts that uses a lot of drugs to deal with behavior not by choice of parents....
Kaohi Mendiola-Kaniaupio February 1, 2012 at 4:57am

Selling drugs 24 hours on this forum is nasty!

This reply was deleted.