How do kids get these drugs?  They often steal them from their parents, buy them off another kid, or get them for a broken arm or leg – and then continue to take them after their bones are healed.

Additionally, and another terrible fact, is that kids can also get them from rehab centers which use Methadone, Suboxone, or other drugs to try to wean an addict off drugs.  Failing all the above, kids can buy or steal large amounts of over the counter cough or cold medicines from drug stores to use to get high.

Some of the most commonly abused prescription or over-the-counter drugs are: Vicodin, Xanax, Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin, Morphine, Methadone, Oxycontin, Percocet, Codeine, Valium, Nyquil, Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta, and Seconal.

Often kids get started on these kinds of drugs because they are easy to access and people are already doing them as prescribed by their doctor.

Here are some great prevention methods you can use with your kid:

1.    Educate them on what prescription drugs are.  Many (like Adderall, Ritalin, Morphine, Oxycontin, Ambien, etc) are powerful – often mind-altering drugs which can become addictive.  Additionally, over-the-counter medications are for a specific illness, and when abused can cause body parts (like the kidney) to deteriorate swiftly.

2.    Keep prescription drugs in a locked cabinet.

3.    Get rid of old drugs by finding your local disposal facility.  This way neither you nor your kids are tempted to use the drug up.

We have recently teamed up with Friends of Narconon to help educate kids about drugs.  Contact us to see if we can help you educate your child about this prevalent issue in our schools today.
If you suspect your child or a friend may be abusing prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal drugs, we can help.  Contact us today at (800) 511-9403.

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Over 700 attended, over 100 experts spoke, including one of the hosts from A&E’s Intervention…

Check it out here:  Prescription Drug Abuse Summit.

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“The use of a prescription medication in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor. Prescription drug abuse includes everything from taking a friend’s prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting ground-up pills to get high. An increasing problem, prescription drug abuse is especially common in young people. The prescription drugs most often abused include painkillers, sedatives for anxiety and sleep disorders, and stimulants for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).”

The reasons for being on prescription drugs have greatly increased in the last 20 years with the invention of many new drugs designed to handle a large range of different physical problems, but doctors are prescribing drugs for more than just serious medical problems. These days, you can go to a doctor to get prescribed drugs for a minor ache or pain which in the past would have been handled with just some extra rest or a hot bath.

With this, people are now handling symptoms (aches, pains, stress, etc) with drugs which dull the senses and make it harder to handle life and make it harder to see the real problems causing the symptoms. Once on these drugs, seeing how easy it is to take a pill which “solves” your problems, it becomes increasingly difficult to kick the habit.

Some prescription drugs commonly abused are:
• OxyContin
• Vicodin
• Xanax
• Valium
• Dexedrine
• Adderall
• Ritalin

Another problem with prescription drugs is, as described in the above definition, patients may not be using these drugs as intended by the prescribing doctors. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens or NIDA for Teens, those who are abusing prescription drugs are taking higher than recommended dosages and so are laying themselves open to overdosing or experiencing side effects which, unknown to them and without being under a doctor’s guidance, could be potentially fatal. Also a common problem along this line is that amongst high school-age youth, there is a new fad called Pharm Parties where they get a bowl of mixed prescription drugs and everyone takes a part of the bowl, mixing many different types of drugs and laying everyone open to the most horrible side effect: DEATH.

True story of a relative:

His friend gave him an Oxy to “just try out”.

He was found dead the next morning.

The autopsy showed that he had kidney problems and the amount he took was a greatly contributing factor.

Again, there is a reason they are PRESCRIPTION ONLY DRUGS.

At our program, we have a success rate 4x the national average in getting and keeping people off of drugs.

If you or a loved one are using prescription medication for anything other than a very serious medical problem, call us today at 1 (800) 511-9403.

www.SuncoastRehabCenter.com

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prescription-drug-abuse/DS01079

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_rx1.php

http://www.prescription-drug-abuse.org/

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“For a lot of average citizens, like me, prescription drugs aren’t worth that much attention. I try to avoid drugs entirely; I like my body natural. Prescription drugs are a real problem in our society, though. Everybody is aware of the problem with illegal drugs. They are dangerous and serious health risks. There are very rare cases when usually illegal drugs are used for medical purposes. There are also cases, much less rare, when prescribed drugs are used for non-medical purposes. An estimated 20% of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. In fact, excluding marijuana, prescription drugs are used to get high more than major illicit drugs (cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine) combined, according to the Center for Disease Control. 2 out of 5 teenagers think that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs. This is not true; all drugs can be dangerous, and all drugs can be over dosed.

“What can we do about the problem? There is actually a lot that we can do to help our friends, family and neighbors. Studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained by family and friends that have them at home. The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 facilitated the creation of drop-offs for prescription drugs. Over 121 tons of prescription drugs were dropped off in September 2010 from around the US. From these drop-offs, the drugs are taken to proper disposal facilities. This is better than flushing the drugs down the toilet because flushed drugs can end up in our water system. Everyone can help out by dropping off their prescription drugs in a secure facility to be disposed of safely. Let’s help address this issue!”

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http://www.prweb.com/releases/Suncoast-Rehabilitation/Center-Friends-Narconon/prweb9287780.htm

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We have committed ourselves to sponsor all the schools in our area and we are doing so on a weekly basis.  Those schools who have asked for a kit, we have provided them with one. No fail.

Here is some of the responses we’ve had from some of the students who have been through the drug education:

“Thanks! You changed my view on drugs completely. This video is actually life changing to me.”

“I can use this to show people who do drugs how stupid they look and really how uncool it is.”

“Thanks for donating the video because it taught me a lot.”

“I really like that there were real Narconon graduates telling their story of what they did and why it is not good for you.”

“[I can use what I learned] to influence other people to NOT do drugs.”

One part of the drug education lectures is to go into how the drugs don’t fully leave the body, but in fact leave residuals that are lodged into the fatty tissues of the body.  These are called metabolites.  During times of stress or heavy exercise, these metabolites can be re-released into the body causing a sensation similar to when the person was doing the drug.  The release of this metabolite could also cause cravings for the drug right now.

To find out how our program will help REMOVE these metabolites from the body, thereby reducing/eliminating cravings and potential relapse, click here to read about the Narconon New Life Detoxification Program.

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According to a story by Amanda Mikelberg in the New York Daily News …

Click here to read the whole article on Drug Rehab ED Responds to News of Recent Drug 10X Stronger Than Vicodin

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At Suncoast Rehab Center we mourn her loss.  We are also incredibly thankful for the lives we are able to save daily from prescription drug abuse.

Click here to see how our Narconon New Life Detoxification Program can give hope.

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At least at Suncoast Rehab we can do something about picking the person up and putting him back on the path to addiction-free wellness.

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