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