Preventing Rx Abuse in Your Community
Coalitions should feel free to adapt the following slides into their education and outreach activities. Here’s what you’ll find:
About this presentation
1. The Teen – Rx Abuse Connection
2. Facts & Stats
3. Teen & Adult Attitudes About Rx Abuse
4. Outreach to Teens, Parents, Families &
Community
5. Want to Learn More?
We have placed relevant source information in the notes section of each slide.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Rx Medications are All Around Us…and Teens Notice
The Teen – Rx Abuse Connection
There’s a “pill for every ill,” and when we
go to the doctor due to illness, it’s natural
to want to walk out with a prescription!
Direct-to-consumer advertising on TV and
in magazines is pervasive.
Many people don’t know how to safely use
these medications or ignore their doctor’s
instructions.
Every day, 2000 teens abuse a
prescription drug for the first time.RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Rx drugs are part of teen culture. Teens
As a result…
Normalize this form of drug abuse.
Take these meds for legitimate reasons –
with or without a prescription – to stay
awake, remain alert or to go to sleep.
Purposely abuse these drugs to get high.
They participate in “pharming” and
“bowling” parties.
Are often unaware that these activities
can lead to disastrous results.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
that abusing Rx drugs canTeenagers don’t know
Increase blood pressure or heart rate.
Damage the brain and other organs.
Lead to accidental overdose / poisonings.
Cause physical dependency and / or
addiction.
Disrupt breathing (respiratory
depression).
Lead to risks associated with mixing
multiple drugs or combining with alcohol.
Cause seizures and even death.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Facts & Stats
While Rx drugs serve an important purpose
when used under a doctor’s care, the misuse
of prescription medicines is a growing, under-
recognized problem that puts young lives at
risk.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Did you know?
Next to marijuana, the most common illegal
drugs teens are abusing are prescription
medicines.
While there continues to be a long-term drop in
past-year non-medical use of Rx medicines
overall, the increased abuse of prescription
stimulants—particularly among teens and young
people—is a cause of concern.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Teens’ Rx Drugs of Choice For Abuse
How they work Abused by teens/young adults to:
Drug names
Strong pain relievers
Used to relieve moderate-to-severe pain, these medications block pain signals to the brain
Get high, increase feelings of well being by affecting the brain regions that mediate pleasure
Vicodin, OxyContin,Percocet, Lorcet, Lortab, Actiq, Darvon, codeine, morphine,methadone
Stimulants Primarily used to treat ADHD type symptoms, these speed up brain activity causing increased alertness, attention, and energy that comes with elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate and breathing
Feel alert, focused and full of energy—perhaps around final exams or to manage coursework, lose weight
Adderall, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Concerta
Sedatives or tranquilizers
Used to slow down or “depress” the functions of the brain and central nervous system pressure, increased heart rate and breathing
Feel calm, reduce stress, sleep
Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Ambien, Lunesta, Mebaral, Nembutal, Soma
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Rx Access Points— Friends & Family Source of
Concern
attitudes about Rx abuseTeens & Adult
MIXING OVER-THE-COUNTER COLD MEDICATION
and someone else's prescription painkillers CAUSED
THE DEATH OF MY SON…I could get my hands on
prescription medicines AS FAST AS I COULD BUY A
PIZZA…the problem IS AS CLOSE AS YOUR
MEDICINE CABINET…PART OF ME DIED THAT DAY
when my daughter was taken away on a gurney…
TEEN RX ABUSE is more than an emerging problem.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Teens say that…
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
They abuse these medicines for a variety of reasons: Get high Treat pain They think it will help them with their school work
Interestingly, boys and girls tend to abuse some types of prescription drugs for different reasons. Boys are more likely to abuse prescription stimulants to get high, while girls tend to abuse them to stay alert or to lose weight.
beliefs & attitudesParental / Guardian
Many parents aren’t aware of the dangers of Rx
abuse—it’s just not on their radar screen.
Prescription medicines can be found in homes of
family or friends, and parents don’t realize the
connection between teen Rx abuse and easy
availability.
Many parents do not know how to effectively talk
with their teens about Rx drug abuse.
They often find out about an Rx problem when it is
too late.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Watch for Physical Warning Signs Excessive sweating, urination or thirst
Nausea and vomiting
Uncontrollable diarrhea
Spastic shaking
Drowsiness, dizziness and insomnia
Loss of consciousness
Physical dependence
Addiction
EDUCATE
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Watch for Other Warning Signs Sudden mood changes, including irritability,
negative attitude, personality change.
Extreme changes in groups of friends or hangout
locations.
Lying or being deceitful, unaccounted time away
from home/missed school days, avoiding eye
contact.
Losing interest in personal appearance,
extracurricular activities or sports.
Poor performance at school.
Borrowing money or having extra cash.
Visiting and even purchasing from pro-drug abuse
(illegal) web sites.
EDUCATE
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
COMMUNICATE
Talk to teens about Rx abuse Teens learn by example. When they see mom, dad,
a sibling or grandparent taking a pill – even
responsibly – it doesn’t seem so bad.
Many teens report that their parents have the
greatest influence on their drug use attitudes and
decisions.
Kids who continue to learn about the risks of drugs
at home are up to 50% less likely to use drugs
than those who are not taught about these
dangers.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
COMMUNICATE
Talking to teens“DENORMALIZE” THE BEHAVIOR While on-average, 2000 teens use
prescription drugs without a doctor’s guidance for the first time, many
more DO NOT!
DEBUNK COMMON MYTHS: Rx abuse is just as dangerous as abusing other
substances; it can be addictive; and it’s not OK to misuse these drugs
even “once in a while.”
PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDELINES If you’re a parent, let teens know you will be
disappointed if they abuse Rx medications and watch how you use
medicines in front of teens.
GIVE TEENS ESCAPE ROUTES Teach them how to get out of bad situations;
and suggest responses they can use when confronted with potential
prescription medicine abuse or misuse:
“No, thanks – not into it.”
“Not today.”
“I’m not interested.”
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
SAFEGUARD
Keep track of your medsParents (and other family members) are in the best position to reduce
access
to prescription drugs by locking up medicines and properly disposing of
expired
or unused medicines.
Monitor all medications in the home—prescription and OTC
medicines.
Safely store medicines out of children’s reach and sight.
Consider locking them up.
Get rid of old or unused medicines.
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Guidelines for Rx drug disposal Follow instructions on the Rx drug label or patient information that comes
with the medicine. Never flush medicines down the sink or toilet unless
you are instructed to do so.
Take advantage of community drug take-back programs, including
National Drug Take-Back Days. Call your city or county government's
household trash and recycling service to see if a take-back program is
available in your community.
If neither instructions nor take-back events are accessible, throw the
drugs away in the household trash, following these steps: 1. Remove the medicine from its original container and mix it with an undesirable
substance (cat litter or used coffee grinds).2. Place the mixture in a sealed bag, empty can or other container. 3. Before disposing of a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information
on the prescription label so it can’t be read.4. Never give these medicines to others.5. When in doubt about proper disposal, talk with your pharmacist.
SAFEGUARD
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action
Want to learn more?COMMUNITY ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS OF AMERICA www.cadca.org
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG DIVERSION INVESTIGATORS www.naddi.org
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PATIENT INFORMATION AND EDUCATION’S RECOVERY OPENS DOORS www.recoveryopensdoors.org
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL PREVENTING Rx DRUG OVERDOSES http://www.nsc.org/safety_home/PrescriptionDrugOverdoses/Pages/Prescription-Drug-Overdoses.aspx
PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG-FREE AMERICA www.drugfree.org
PEERx (NIDA for Teens) http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx
WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY, PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSEwww.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/prescription-drug-abuse
RX ABUSE PREVENTION TOOLKIT - from awareness to action