Michael Jackson's death is a wake-up call to the country about the dangers of prescription drugs, according to the Director of the National Drug Control Policy.

"If we can save lives, and if we can bring to the attention of the people the dangers of prescription drug abuse, I think there will be some benefit to this country," ONDCP director Gil Kerlikowske said.

The pop singer may have died from an overdose of prescription drugs, a cause of death that also claimed celebrities Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith. According to a CNN report, Jacksons employees told police that he asked them to obtain prescription drugs under different names. His bodyguards told police that he took 30 to 40 Xanax every night.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, medical correspondent for CNN, said, "This is an extremely high dose of Xanax. It is a huge red flag. This dosage is exceedingly high for any human being." Xanax is used to treat panic attacks.

Jackson may have also abused Demerol, a prescription painkiller.

In 2005, over 8500 people died from non-medical use of painkillers. People 18 to 25 years old are in the age group most likely to abuse these drugs, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Dr. Marvin Seppala, a medical officer with a drug treatment center, said, "I think people of all ages do not take medication as seriously as street drugs. There is a naïve belief that they are safer. The truth is pain medications are in the exact same class as heroin and morphine. Theyre very addictive."

Labels: prescription_drugs

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The Community Child Protection Team of Salisbury, North Carolina, met last week to discuss teen abuse of prescription drugs and possible steps to address the problem in the community. The chairman of the group cited a recent statistic from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America that one in five American teens has abused prescription pain medication, stimulants, and/or tranquilizers.

A Salisbury attorney, Mr. Morris, shared his observations with the group: "I see it every day in court ... and the judges and DAs see it many more times daily." Morris said he believes that almost all physicians and pharmacists are honest; however, money may still be an incentive for over-vending the drug legally (a pharmacy makes $400 on a prescription for the painkiller OxyContin). OxyContin, which is the chemical cousin of heroin, may be even more addictive and more deadly.

(Source: www.salisburypost.com)

Labels: teens, abuse, prescription_drugs

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Staten Island is seeing a growing trend of prescription drug abuse, as evidenced by the arrests last week of 23 people involved in an illegal prescription drug distribution ring. Most of those arrested were in their mid-20s and together they forged over 108 prescriptions.

"...over the past few years, autopsy results have linked several notable deaths on Staten Island to prescription drug abuse...' This is serious stuff. Kids figure "I'm not shooting heroin, I'm not snorting cocaine, I'm not smoking crack... This must be safe because an American pharmaceutical company made this,"' [District Attorney Daniel] Donovan says."

Teens have been known to pillage unlocked cars, looking for valuables to sell in exchange for prescription drugs. But most (34 percent and 31 percent respectively) get them from their own home or from friends or classmates. Source: Staten Island Advance

Labels: prescription_drugs, criminal_activity

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By introducing House Bill 1165, legislators in the state of Washington hope to require pharmaceutical companies to offer statewide collection and disposal of unused medications.

"This is not a new idea - medicine makers have been operating successful take-back programs in Canada, France, Spain, and elsewhere for many years. British Columbia's program, for example, has been operating since 1996 and is fully paid for by the pharmaceutical industry."

Prescription drug abuse is becoming an increasing problem among teenagers, primarily because the drugs are so easily obtained. In Washington, pharmaceuticals are the drug-of-choice among 12- and 13-year olds, exceeding alcohol and marijuana. Source: The Herald (WA)

Labels: prescription_drugs, medications, legislation

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A 17-year-old high school senior was found dead Jan. 21 from what authorities have said was a drug overdose. The Stockton, California, teen had taken a fatal combination of Oxycodone, Valium and Xanax.

"In response to the girl's death, Lincoln High Principal Debbi Holmerud invited parents and students to the campus Thursday night for a meeting to talk about the perils of drugs, especially prescription drugs."

Stockton Police Officer Richard Fields encouraged parents to "be aware of what's in your medicine cabinet - and what's missing." Parents were also encouraged to take note of emotional and physical changes in their children, as they can be signs of drug abuse. Source: The Record (Stockton, CA)

Labels: death, prescription_drugs, overdose

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The 2008 Monitoring the Future report, which tracks drug use among teenagers and pre-teens, found that prescription drugs and marijuana are still common substances of abuse among young Americans. The study also reported a drop in the number of eighth graders who perceive marijuana as a dangerous drug.

As a result of this and other findings, the website Café Prevention has announced a series of new drug abuse prevention materials that are aimed at young people:

"Café Prevention is pleased to announce the arrival of new hard-hitting, creative and very affordable prevention materials designed specifically to address prescription, over-the-counter, and marijuana use by youth. These drug prevention materials provide factual and user-friendly information to help one's city, county, school, youth organization or congregation tackle these issues."

Café Prevention's updated materials can be used as part of an overall community-based program that is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use.

Labels: pot, prescription_drugs

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The most recent edition of the annual "Monitoring the Future" survey from the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that teens are drinking and smoking less, but abusing more prescription painkillers, stimulants, and marijuana.

According to the CASA report, smoking and drinking has been on a steady decline since 1997. For example, the percentage of 12th graders who drink alcohol decreased from 19 percent to 11 percent; among 10th graders, the drinking prevalence decreased from 43 percent to 29 percent.

However, more teenagers are using prescription drugs, especially painkillers OxyContin and Vicodin, and stimulants Ritalin and Adderall. The number of prescriptions written for these drugs has doubled in the past ten years.

The annual survey, which was conducted by the University of Michigan, analyzed data on 46,000 students in grades eight to 12.

Labels: abuse, prescription_drugs

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A recent survey conducted by national polling firm RT Strategies found that just 6% of parents are concerned about their kids abusing prescription medication. The finding was alarming, in light of other studies that have shown a dramatic increase in abuse of prescription drugs among teenagers.

"'We must raise awareness of these drug trends so parents realize that talking to their kids about drug abuse and prevention before heading back to school is on par with buying school supplies - both are necessary and will lay the foundation for a successful and healthy school year,' continued [Debbie] Moak."

The study also found that, though 80% of parents deny that prescription drugs are easily accessible in their home, over 10% of kids aged 12 to 17 have taken prescription drugs from a family member or friends' home. Read more at EMaxHealth.com.

Labels: parents, communication, prescription_drugs

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Parents of toddlers lock up medicines so their children do not have access to dangerous drugs. Now experts are advising parents of teens to do the same thing.

A new study from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that teens say it is easier to obtain prescription drugs than cigarettes, beer, or marijuana. One-third of the teens in the study who abuse such drugs obtain them from their own homes. Parents are often unaware teens are raiding family medicine cabinets because teens often steal just a few pills at a time.

Researchers in this latest government study interviewed 1,000 students ages 12 to 17 and 300 parents between April and June. Nearly half of the older teens reported knowing at least one friend who was abusing prescription drugs.

Illegal drug use among teenagers has declined 25 percent since 2001, but teen prescription drug abuse is increasing, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Opiates such as Vicodin and OxyContin, which are chemical cousins of heroin and morphine, are particularly popular with teens. Teens are prone to addiction because the human brain does not fully mature until age 24.

"This has quietly and insidiously grown into a big problem," said spokesperson for the agency, Tom Riley. "It's not the creepy guy in an overcoat pushing drugs - this is about medications that are in your home. ... Teens are getting drugs from their parents' or grandparents' medicine cabinets."

Teens can also buy almost any drug they want from Internet pharmacies without doctors' prescriptions.

New legislation sponsored by California Senator Dianne Feinstein would require any business selling controlled substances on the Internet to register with the Drug Enforcement Agency. This measure passed in the House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate.

Labels: parental_involvement, abuse, prescription_drugs

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Teenagers say that it's easier for them to get prescription drugs than it is for them to buy beer. The information was taken from a recent study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA).

"Their main source of drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin and Ritalin: 'the medicine cabinet,' says Elizabeth Planet, director of special projects for CASA. 'Another big source of these drugs are their friends.'"

Teenagers still say that cigarettes and marijuana are the easiest substances to get, but for the first time, prescription drugs are easier than beer. Source: USA Today

Learn more about adolescent prescription drug abuse at www.teenoverthecounterdrugabuse.com.

Labels: awareness, access, prescription_drugs

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Danny was in eighth grade when he first got hooked on drugs. He started with the Ritalin that had been prescribed him for ADHD by crushing and snorting it. Then he started stealing other medications from his mother.

"By the time Danny was a sophomore in high school, he was using cocaine and crystal meth. One morning when he was 19, he woke up vomiting and hung over as usual. 'I just broke,' he said. 'I was wholeheartedly ready to stop.'"

Now, two and a half years later, Danny is clean, even after being prescribed Vicodin following extensive back surgery. Coming out of the surgery was a "huge turning point," making Danny realize how far he'd come and how much he'd gained since giving up drugs and alcohol. Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Labels: parental_involvement, abuse, prescription_drugs

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Treatment for prescription drug abuse and addiction surged 321 percent in 10 years, according to federal statistics. Stephen Pasierb, president and chief executive for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America says this abuse is fueled in part by a low perception of risk.

"'There's a very low social disapproval. In fact, there are parents who are almost relieved that their kid is using Vicodin and not smoking marijuana,' he said."

Prescription drug monitoring legislation exists in 38 states, and some states offer pre-addressed, postage-paid envelopes for people to mail in unused medications for proper disposal. Still, the efforts seem to be making little headway in curbing this latest substance abuse trend. Source: Reuters

Labels: addiction, abuse, prescription_drugs

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A study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) finds that the number of websites that advertise or sell prescription drugs dropped from 581 to 365 in the past year.

"'This decline in the number of Web sites advertising or selling controlled prescription drugs may reflect efforts of federal and state agencies and financial institutions to crack down on Internet drug trafficking...' said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's Chairman and President and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare."

Unfortunately, not all the news was good. CASA also found that few sites require proof of a prescription before consumers purchase controlled medications. Source: PharmaLive

Labels: internet, prescription_drugs, pharmacies

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The Florida Medical Examiner's Commission has reported that the misuse of prescription drugs was responsible for more deaths in that state last year than was the abuse of illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine.

According to the NewsInferno website, the commission's analysis of nearly 170,000 autopsies revealed that prescription drugs caused three times as many deaths as did illegal drugs:

Cocaine, heroin and all methamphetamines caused 989 deaths, [the commission] found, while legal opioids like OxyContin caused 2,328 fatalities. The study also found that while the number of people whose deaths involved heroin increased 14 percent in 2007, to 110, deaths related to the opioid oxycodone increased 36 percent, to 1,253.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, around seven million Americans are abusing prescription drugs  an increase of 80 percent in just six years. The Drug Abuse Warning Network reports that since 1995, the number of drug abuse-related emergency room visits involving pain relievers increased nationwide by 153 percent.

Bill Janes, the director of Florida's Office of Drug Control, told the News Manatee website that the state is working to implement a statewide monitoring program in an effort to combat the abuse of prescription medication.

"The monitoring plan is our priority effort, but that is not enough," Janes said. "We are working to increase awareness among our families by focusing our efforts on communities, schools, businesses, churches, and the media. ... Only through a comprehensive, coordinated strategy will we be able to reverse this tragic, unacceptable trend."

Labels: death, prescription_drugs

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Three times as many Floridians died this year from prescription drug abuse than from the use illicit drugs, according to a report from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. Florida is one of the few states that keep such records.

The new information supports the findings of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, which estimates an 80 percent increase in the number of people abusing prescription drugs in the United States over the past six years. This increase means that an estimated seven million people are illegally using prescription medications, primarily painkillers and opiates like oxycodone and hydrocone.

The Florida report found that 989 individuals died from using cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines, while 2,328 deaths resulted from the use of painkillers. An additional 743 deaths were attributed to the misuse of benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax.

Florida legislators are considering joining the 38 states that already have laws to monitor prescription drug sales.

Labels: death, abuse, prescription_drugs

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Doctors and pharmacists in California have trouble regulating the amount of prescription medication people get, primarily because the current tracking system is too slow. In response to the problem, Attorney General Jerry Brown has announced that California's prescription-tracking database will be placed on a secure website that will be updated in real time.

"Moving the state's Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System online would allow doctors and pharmacists to immediately access a database of more than 86 million drug prescriptions. All prescriptions filled for schedule II, III, and IV drugs - including powerful painkillers like morphine, hydro-codone and codeine - would be instantly available."

Brown didn't give a timetable for implementing the website, saying the $3.5 million needed would have to come from private sources because the state doesn't have money. Brown's proposal names the Troy and Alana Pack Foundation as the primary source of money; the foundation was started and named after two young children who were killed by a motorist high on prescription drugs. Source: KCRA - Los Angeles

Learn more about Teen Over the Counter and Prescription Drug Abuse at http://www.teenoverthecounterdrugabuse.com.

Labels: drug_abuse, prescription_drugs, drug_use

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Katie is a high school senior who spends part of her school week working at the Teen Health Center, where both staff and volunteers have been hearing more stories about prescription drug use among students.

"The center's coordinator, Mary Tonsmeire, said one of the first things she and other medical professionals did was to gather data to see if the anecdotal information they were hearing was showing a trend."

Tonsmeire then talked to doctors and pharmacists to find out if there were ways to keep track of where teens got prescription medication that didn't belong to them. She and her staff are working closely with high schools to include information about prescription drug use in health classes. Source: Juneau Empire

Labels: abuse, prescription_drugs, health_care

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If your child has been diagnosed with a medical condition that requires medication, they can carry around their prescriptions. But it's a different situation altogether when a teenager is found in possession of medications not belonging to her, as several Boulder, Colorado students found out last week.

"Three female Nevin Platt Middle School students were arrested on felony charges this week after an investigation into prescription-drug trading that sent a fourth girl home sick... one of the girls brought two types of prescription drugs - Strattera and Concerta, both used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - to the school..."

Prescription drug abuse is becoming increasingly common among teenagers, but few realize the dire consequences associated with using and distributing the drugs. Source: Boulder Daily Camera

Copper Canyon Academy all girls schools have a program to help girls struggling with risky behaviors such as drinking, drugging, and having sex. Learn more about their boarding schools for troubled teen girls at www.coppercanyonacademy.com.

Labels: prescription_drugs, consequences, arrested

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A few years ago, a group of new drugs looked like they held promise for use in the treatment of alcoholism, substance abuse, smoking cessation, and even obesity. Now, doctors are finding that these drugs have serious side effects for some patients.

Drugs like Chantix, Rimonabant, and Taranabant work by blocking the pleasure centers in the brain. However, they also put some patients at risk for depression and suicide. Certain drug makers are now advising doctors not to prescribe them to anyone with a history of depression.

Prescription drugs alone will never be able to treat addiction; behavior modification and therapy must be part of the treatment for long term recovery. Learn more about the fully integrated adolescent drug treatment program at North Star Center.

Labels: treatment, brain_chemistry, prescription_drugs

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Parents in Chattanooga, Tenn., gathered together on Tuesday night to discuss the issue of teen drug abuse. The forum was called in response to the March 1st death of a 15-year-old who overdosed on prescription medication.

"A group of students volunteered to start a peer council and share the experience of teen angst with their classmates... Parent Alan Broom said the peer council was the most well-received idea at Tuesday's forum, which was attended by dozens of parents but closed to the media."

Parents also discussed the importance of meeting their kids' friends and their friends' families. Read more at TimesFreePress.com.

Pharm parties are ways for teens to experiment with prescription drugs. Learn more about pharm parties and prescription drug abuse at ByParents-forParents.com.

Labels: parental_involvement, prescription_drugs

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The latest Monitoring the Future survey has found that prescription drug use among teenagers is still on the rise. Painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin were among the most popular.

"'For teenagers nowadays, prescription drugs are becoming more of a problem than illicit street drugs', said Russell Bush, Medical Director for the Lapeer County Health Department. 'We periodically have overdose and deaths in this country from prescription medication, or mixing of prescription medication with illicit drugs, and/or alcohol.'"

The mixing of prescription and illicit drugs often amplifies the effects of the prescription drug and can cause near-euphoric feelings.

NorthStar Center offers addiction recovery programs to older teens and young adults. Their substance abuse treatment center helps adolescents get on the road to health and success.

Labels: teenagers, prescription_drugs

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Students who abuse prescription medication often "fly under the radar" according to school officials in Muskegon County, Michigan. Still, most schools have programs ready to help those students for whom drug use of any kind is a known problem.

"Muskegon High School has a network of teachers, student specialists, administrators and guidance counselors who are alert for signs that students may be using drugs...If such changes are noted, school officials will talk to the student, at the same time including parents and guardians. Counseling, tutoring or even outside resources may be offered."

The county is finding that an increasing number of students bring prescription medications to schools (particularly Ritalin and Adderall) with the intent of selling it to fellow students.

Labels: high school, awareness, prescription_drugs

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The state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) of New York has created tool it hopes will help parents spot drug abuse problems in the home.

"The state Office... created the tool to help New Yorkers track prescription and over-the-counter medicines in their home. It's intended to be filled out weekly."

The PDF tool is downloadable off the OASAS website and is a grid-like worksheet that can be used to track: a medication's dose amount, when the prescription was filled, and how much of the medication is left each day.

Visit our page on identifying the General Signs of Teen Alcohol or Drug Use and learn about what you can do to help.

Labels: prevention, awareness, prescription_drugs

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The Calhoun County Medicine Abuse Prevention Task Force was formed in 2005, as the county became aware of the increasing abuse of prescription medication. Now, the task force is urging parents, teachers and community leaders to educate themselves on the dangers of prescription drug use and the warning signs.

"Signs of a medicine abuse problem may include: hiding pills, obsessively counting them, doctor shopping, or frequent visits to emergency rooms, having meds filled at more than one pharmacy, taking a greater amount of drug or taking it more frequently than prescribed."

The greatest danger in prescription drug use is that many people, especially teenagers, think that prescribed medicine is safer than illegal drugs. Pain killers are currently the most common among misused prescription drugs.

Labels: abuse, prescription_drugs, medications

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Recent studies have indicated that one in five teenagers has abused prescription medication that they get from a parent or grandparent's medicine cabinet. To try and curb this trend in South Florida, the Drug Free Collier is holding "Operation Medicine Cabinet" on Saturday, November 17th.

"Everyone is invited to bring unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications to several locations for proper disposal during Operation Medicine Cabinet, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17th."

There will be several locations at which people can drop off medication.

Prescription drug abuse is a dangerous and serious matter. Visit DrugRehabTreatment for important information.

Labels: community_programs, prescription_drugs

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Repeated efforts by various organizations and government agencies have outlined the many dangers of prescription drug abuse. Still, teens continue to ignore the warnings.

"Dr. Alan Barton, a Fort Mojave pediatrician, said in the past year he has seen an increase of young people abusing prescribed drugs such as OxyContin, which he said physicians falsely tout as less addictive. Barton said he has four female patients addicted to Soma, a pain reliever. His youngest patient is a 13-year-old who uses cough medicine and marijuana."

Parents, school administrators, doctors and nurses need to continue issuing warnings about prescription drug use. Parents should make sure their own medications are stored in a place that is inaccessible to their kids or their kids' friends.

Labels: awareness, parents, prescription_drugs

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Researchers at the Ohio State University looked into 18.6 million visits to doctors by children ages 6 to 12 years who had problems falling asleep. Three-quarters of them received prescription sleep aids that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by children.

"The concern with sleep medications is that we do not know how much to use and how long to use these drugs for children," said Professor Milap Nahata of the College of Pharmacy in Columbus. He and his colleagues collected data recorded between 1993 and 2004 by the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

A 2004 study from the National Sleep Foundation found that about 60% of children under age 11 have trouble sleeping. Dr. Nahata's study appears in the August 1 issue of Sleep.

Learn more about teenage drug abuse and other issues facing today's teens at Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: sleep, children, prescription_drugs

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On August 15th, parents, teens, health care professionals, and city officials will come together in East Brunswick, New Jersey to discuss the dangerous trend of prescription medication abuse among teens. The purpose is to educate and raise awareness of the problem.

"More importantly, we aim to identify solutions and strategies to address this issue. Audience members will be encouraged to join in the dialogue with questions and ideas."

State Senator Barbara Buono will serve as moderator. Read more at THNT.com.

Dealing with teen drug abuse? You don't have to go through it alone. Learn how to get help at DrugRehabTreament.com.

Labels: awareness, abuse, prescription_drugs

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Prescription drug abuse has become more common than the uses of heroin and crack/cocaine combined. Most parents take proactive steps to keep their prescription medications where they can't be found or stolen, but teens can also buy them online - often without a prescription.

"According to CASA [The Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse], there are 581 websites that advertise or sell controlled prescription drugs... One of the most disturbing things about this study is that 84 percent of these websites don't require a prescription to buy these drugs."

It's becoming increasingly important for parents to monitor what their kids are doing online. Prescription drugs can only be bought online using a credit card, so careful scrutiny of credit card statements is important as well. Read more at Fox16.com.

Concerned about adolescent substance abuse? DrugRehabTreatment.com has the answers you're looking for about prescription drug abuse and other more about drugs and teens. Visit DrugRehabTreatment.com for help on teen drug addiction.

Labels: over-the-counter-drugs, internet, prescription_drugs

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According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center, 10 percent of college use stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall illegally at some point. Typically used to treat ADHD, illegal use of these drugs jumped 20 percent between 2004 and 2005.

"'Most students who use their friends stimulants do it to improve performance,' said Scott Teitelbaum, M.D., medical director of the Florida Recovery Center at UF. 'It's like athletes taking steroids - the idea that you can study better, harder, longer, as if you were hitting a ball farther.'"

Students who abuse prescription drugs are often already behind in school, which is why they need to cram. Overall, their academic performance is worse than that of other students. Abuse of prescription drugs has increased sharply in the past several years, and is now more common that the uses of crack/cocaine, Ecstasy, heroin and methamphetamine combined.

Read more at News-Medical.net.

Labels: stimulants, prescription_drugs, college_students

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A grassroots campaign called Five Moms launched today, in an effort to educate parents about the very real dangers of cough-medicine abuse among teenagers. The campaign was developed by the nation's cough-medicine makers, who conducted a nationwide search to find the Five Moms.

"The Five Moms Campaign will use the very same tactics medicine abusers are using: spreading and promoting information on the Internet. The Five Moms' goal is to get the word out to as many parents as possible that cough medicine abuse is happening in their homes, and that the Internet is a driving force."

Recent studies have shown that as many as one in 10, or 2.4 million young people, report having used cough-medicine to get high. Read more online.

Over the counter drugs and teens don't mix. Today's teenagers are using and abusing prescription medicines as never before. Get more help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-forParents.com.

Labels: over-the-counter-drugs, prescription_drugs, medications

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