Teen Drug Abuse of Prescription Drugs

Overview

Drug abuse is a serious behavior that can have dire consequences if not addressed or treated. The abuse of prescription drugs is a very serious issue and many families find themselves dealing with how to help their troubled teens. Many teenagers who abuse prescription drugs don't often realize the devastating side effects that can result from medication. Effects include addiction and possible overdose.

Reasons

There are several reasons why a teen abuses prescription drugs. Initially, he may have been introduced to the drug by friends or at a party. After taking the drug, he may get used to the feeling that the drug invokes in his body. Feelings of euphoria, dizziness, sleepiness, numbness, high-energy and alertness can be side effects to some prescription drugs. Other teens or adults may introduce prescription drugs to other teens. They may suggest that certain prescription drugs may help them to relax, forget about their problems and help combat feelings of depression and anxiety. The teens then become dependent on the drug and the cycle of addiction begins.

Signs

There are some signs that others can look for if they suspect a teen is abusing prescription drugs. These signs include hanging around a different group of friends, noticing negative changes in school work or school attendance, becoming more secretive or isolated, borrowing money or stealing items, or empty pill bottles and prescription drug bottles missing throughout the house. If any of these signs are present, taking the teenager to a family physician or getting a drug test is one of the initial steps in overall treatment.

Types of Drugs

There are several different types of drugs that are abused by teens. One of the most common types is pain relievers. Pain relievers can be found in the medicine cabinet of people who have had injuries or have been ill. Common prescription pain relievers include codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and propoxyphene. These types of drugs are opiates or morphine derivatives and can cause various side effects such as sedation, coma, respiratory depression and cardiac arrest. Depressive drugs include phenobarbital, Xanax, Ativan and Nembutal. These drugs can bring about slurred speech, fatigue, visual disturbances and overall poor judgment. Stimulants are also a popular drug abused by teenagers. These include methamphetamines, amphetamines and methylphenidate. These stimulants can be very dangerous to teenagers. Some of the side effects are impulsive behavior, psychotic behavior, weight loss, memory loss, neurological damage, tremor and stroke.

Effects

The effects from teenagers abusing prescription drugs is troublesome. The teenager may end up failing in school because of lack of concentration or because of lack of attendance. The teen may also find herself in trouble with the law for stealing items to pay for her drug habit. She can also get caught by the law when making any illegal transaction of the drug on the streets. This can also affect friends and family, as the teen may begin to steal prescription drugs from them or take items from their homes or possession in order to sell and make money to buy or acquire more drugs.

Treatment

There are several options available for the treatment of prescription drugs. The best course of treatment for severe drug addiction would be an inpatient drug rehabilitation facility. An inpatient drug rehab facility has medical staff on hand to deal with the harsh withdrawal effects from prescription drugs. Follow-up care may include attending an outpatient treatment program that will provide ongoing support to the teen. In addition, behavioral therapy may help him deal with his addiction and provide family support to the patient's family.