Prescription Drug Abuse in Teenagers Essay Example for Free

prescription(prenominal) medicine Drug Abuse in Teenagers EssayAlthough ethical medicine doses ar non harmful if used correctly, prescription drug convolute is soaring in adolescents. around p arents would never think their teenageagers are servinging themselves to prescription medicine sitting on iodins counter. The truth is, prescription drug call in teenagers has become very common nowa daylights. The drugs are slowly accessible at bag, or cheap to buy at groom. They are highly addictive and tidy sum even cause death. Putting consortlesss prescriptions in a safe place may save a childs life. Prescription drug colony usually starts with experimentation.Teenagers may be trying prescription drugs because their friends are doing it or it may just be out of curiosity. Some teenagers will turn to prescription drugs to forget their problems. As the addiction progresses, it becomes harder and harder to stop using the prescription drugs (Smith, 2010). Experi mentation rarely petabits to a costly outcome. If unrivalleds child starts with a elementary experiment of prescription drug use, odds are it will ultimately end with addiction. Smith (2010), states Addiction is a complex disorder characterized by unconditional drug use.People who are addicted feel an overwhelming, uncontrollable pick up for drugs (Drug contumely and addiction, para. 1). When nonpareil has recurrent drug use it will permanently alter the header. The long-lasting effect on the brain changes ones competency to think, use good judgment, control ones behavior, or feel normal without the drug. It is the drug cravings and compulsions to use that make the addiction so powerful. These cravings and compulsions to use are partly cause by the changes the drugs make to ones brain (Smith, 2010).The average prescription drug abuser will start between the ages of 12 and 17. Every day about 2,500 teenagers in this age group abuse a prescription drug for the first time (Havens, 2009). The number of high school students who are abusing prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone (OxyCotin), a knock-down(a) and highly addictive opiate, or sedative is on the rise (Freedman, (2006), para. 3). Stimulants are the more or less common used, contiguous is opiates, followed by tranquilizers, and then sedatives (Parenting Teens, 2005).The pain relievers such as Vicoden or OxyCotin are used to achieve a high, whereas the sedatives such as Xanax and Valium are used to relax or calm. These drugs rout out lead to dependence and addiction. Stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine, or Provigil decrease ones appetite tho increases ones alertness and aid. These are self-destructive because they can cause addiction, seizures, or heart attacks. Stimulants are often used to lose weight of for studying. Steroids are used to built ones bodies or promote athletic performance.The dangers involved in consuming steroids are moral and physical health effects as well as serious sexual effects (Havens, 2009). Findings from a 2005 survey conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that approximately 21% of the U. S. population age 12 and older accounting using any suit of prescription drug nonmedically in their lifetime, 16% report us of opiate-type pain killers, 8% report tranquilizer use, 8% report stimulant use, and 2% report sedative use (Ford, 2008, para. 10). The study also put that substance abuse can cause users to offend the law as well as impair good judgment.However, it has been found that the violations of the law are followed by the abuse of prescription drugs, or other illegal substances. Therefore if ones teenager is addicted to prescription drugs, legal difficulties will probably follow. The researchers believe substance abuse is a definite road to a delinquent lifestyle (Ford, 2008). Reported prescription drug abuse by high school seniors in 2005 Parenting Teens (2005).According to Freedman (2006), an 18-year-old who lives in San Francisco believes as long as the prescription practice of medicine is taken properly, it is much safer than any street drug. According to the findings of the Partnership for a sober America study, forty per centum said prescription were much safer than illegal drugs while 31 percent said that there was nothing wrong with using prescription drugs once in a while (Prescription-Drug Use by Teens, (2006), para. 1). Teenagers think that because a medication has a prescription for an individual, it makes it safe for everyone. some(prenominal) factors are involved in prescribing certain medications such as medical conditions, age, other prescriptions on may be taking and the diagnosis of the individual.Most teenagers do not consider these factors when championing themselves to medications confident(p) to someone else. Prescription drugs are easy for a teenager to acquire either from their doctors or from their own medicine cabinets. Most parents are not aware of the risks involved in leaving a bottle of prescription medication lying on the counter for everyone to stupefy access. It will start with taking one or devil at a time and then the teenager ultimately proceeds to steeling the entire bottle, buying the prescription medications at school from classmates or even lying to their doctors to obtain their own prescriptions.The increasing popularity of nonmedical prescription drug use is based on the putative advantages of prescription drugs over street drugs the drugs are easier to obtain, there is little likelihood of arrest, use is more socially accepted, and there is a perception the prescription drugs are safer (Ford, (2008), para. 10). measure is the best tool concerning teenagers and prescription drug abuse. Havens, (2009), Most teenagers say parents are not discussing the dangers of prescription drugs with them (6 locomote to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse in Teens, para. ). It is the parents responsibility to monit or nearly the prescription medication in the floor and purchase a employ box if necessary to stay on ones teenager safe.One needfully to educate ones teenagers in the dangers of prescription medication and the factors that go into prescribing those medications to each individual. Take it as far as asking the family physician to chat with ones teenager if necessary. Sometimes they listen to st run forrs better than their own parents. Take the time to view there are no or out-of-date medications in the home.If these medications are no longer needed, slash of them properly by flushing those (Havens, 2009). Parents are not always aware of how dangerous their own medication can be to their teenagers. MSNBC (2010). Parents also need to educate themselves in the signs associated with prescription drug abuse. Some of the thing one needs to watch for with their teenager behavior is neglecting responsibilities, getting into legal trouble, and even problems with the relationships with ones friends.If ones teenager is starting to fall on school grades, not do chores at home, or even skipping school a pattern of neglecting responsibilities in beginning to develop. Behavior to watch for in relationships with friends would be losing longtime friends, and sometimes fist fighting with them. One may also be fighting more than usual with ones siblings or ones boss at the job. The signs of legal trouble can be anywhere from simple disorderly conduct to any type of major crime. If ones teenager suddenly becomes involved with the law, something is wrong (Smith, 2010).The most noticeable physical signs of a prescription drug addiction is if ones pupils are bigger or little than normal, ones eyes are unhealthy, grooming habit deteriorate, unusual odor on breath or clothing, compact speech, bad coordination, and tremors (Smith, 2010). Psychological warnings one can detect are (Smith, 2010), Unexplained change in reputation or attitude, sudden mood swings, irritability, or anger outbursts, periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness, lack of motivation appears languorous or spaced out, appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason (Drug abuse and addiction, para. 9).Warning signs that tend to evidence more in teenagers are when one starts being secretive about their friends, one has a new-made interest in ones clothing styles, and ones teenager is suddenly in need or more privacy then usual. If one has money, valuables, or prescription medication missing, one may need to consider the possibility of ones teenager developing a prescription drug addiction. another(prenominal) common signs are depression, withdrawing from the family, using incense to hide the smell, or eye drops to cover the dilated or bloodshot (Smith, 2010).Drug rehabilitation can be a costly, but necessary, adventure. According to ChooseHelp, (2010), the professional staff engagement at any comprehensive and quality rehab facility disallows bargain treatment, and you need to be prepared to perish a significant amount of money to get a quality and effective treatment course of instruction (The Cost of Drug Rehab, para. 3). Considering all cost involved in housing, feeding, drug therapies, and professional involvement, prices can range from a few thousand dollars a month all the way up to $30,000 per month (ChooseHelp, 2010).Several insurance companies will absorb most of the financial burden. One needs to contact ones private insurance company and receive all details pertaining to this type of treatment. If one contacts ones local State Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Council, there are programs available to those that cannot pay nor have any insurance. One needs to take into consideration the seriousness of this addiction. When it involves a prescription drug addiction, one cannot let the cost be a factor in the determination of the treatment.According to ChooseHelp (2010), family programs can help to heal a family harmed by the dest ruction and heartache of abuse and bring back a healthier dynamic to the family as a whole (Families Need to be a Part of the Process, para. 3). One needs to decide how much family involvement will be in the rehab process. Family involvement is extremely important not only for the family but for the addict as well.When family member are learning about the addiction from happy professionals as well as other families facing the same situation, families are taught what is most beneficial for the teen and it assures the family that they are not esponsible for the addiction (ChooseHelp, 2010). When seeking a prescription drug treatment center for teenager one needs to consider a program involving patient education as well as family education. The program should offer counseling sessions with a therapist or psychologist as well as peer group session involving several families. One needs to choose a facility close to home to achieve adequate family involvement (ChooseHelp, 2010).When th e rehabilitation program is successfully completed it is also important to get over care in an outside group such as Alcohol Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. tuition for these meetings can be obtained in ones local phone book. If the teenager in the home has been acting differently and medication is running out sooner than usual, take the steps necessary to help him or her. Admitting he or she may be addicted to prescription drugs is not easy but the help one can receive for him or her may save his or her life.Pay attention to the warning signs, ask questions at the doctor appointments and try not to have addictive medication prescribed to ones child, especially if the child has had a problem in the past with any type of addiction. Be careful where prescription medications are located and consider investing in a lock box. It may be a decision that saves ones teenagers life. If one discovers ones teenager has a prescription drug addiction, or any other addiction, do not be afraid to seek help. coin does not need to be an issue in saving ones life.Referenceshttp//www.choosehelp.com/drug-rehab/families-need-to-be-a-part-of-the-processhttp//www.choosehelp.com/drug-rehab/the-costs-of-drug-rehabhttp//today.msnbc.msn.com/id/12803776/ns/health-addictions/