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Kids And Prescriptions

The New Fix-Its

U.S. teens are abusing illegal drugs such as marijuana less, but abuse of legal prescription drugs is rising, according to a new study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  However, an increase in abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications has left anti-drug campaigners confused as to how to combat the problem of legal drugs. Nearly one in 10 high school seniors reported using the prescription painkiller Vicodin without a prescription, while roughly one in 20 said they had used Oxycontin without a prescription.  Overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs accounted for about one-quarter of the 1.3 million drug-related emergency room admissions in 2004.  Some kids are self-medicating undiagnosed depression or anxiety, while others are using stimulants to try to get an edge on tests and studying.  Sadly, prescription drugs are familiar mood-altering substances for a generation that grew up as prescriptions soared for Ritalin and other stimulants to treat maladies such as attention-deficit disorder.  A staggering five million kids take prescription drugs every day for behavior disorders.  Pharmaceutical companies’ production of two often-abused prescription drugs — hydrocodone and oxycodone, the active ingredients in drugs such as Vicodin and OxyContin — has risen dramatically as the drugs’ popularity for legitimate uses has increased.  To try to reduce the supply of prescription drugs on the black market, authorities have shut down several “pill mills” — where doctors prescribe inordinate amounts of narcotics — as well as Internet pharmacies that ship drugs with little medical consultation, says Catherine Harnett, chief of demand reduction for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Essentially what is most important is not locking up the narcotics it is better parenting and more involvement.

It’s Harder If You Start Young

Young and Loaded

A NIDA-funded study has demonstrated that the relapse rate for heroin addicts increases with time and that the probability of long-term abstinence depends on the age of first drug use. Those who start daily heroin use at a younger age are more likely to relapse than those who start later. Heroin is not the only type of  drug that has ill effects if consumed at a young age.

Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other illegal drugs without first trying marijuana. For example, the risk of using cocaine is much greater for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Using marijuana puts children and teens in contact with people who are users and sellers of other drugs. So there is more of a risk that a marijuana user will be exposed to and urged to try more drugs.  To better determine this risk, scientists are examining the possibility that long-term marijuana use may create changes in the brain that make a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine.  Therefore, if during the crucial developmental stages there are chemicals added to the brain chemistry evoking feelings of happiness, belonging, and/or excitement; the brain will be more likely to consistently resort to those methods (drugs) in order to experience those emotions due to the lack of practice in experiencing those feelings organically.

The Adolescent Brain and Addiction

Drug user brain activity

The adolescent brain is different from an adult brain because it is not yet fully matured. According to NIDA’s Dr. Volkow, adolescent brains are more susceptible to drug abuse and addiction than fully developed adult brains. However, because it is still growing, the adolescent brain also under the right conditions have a better opportunity for greater resilience. Even though treatment can yield positive results, sadly families are unwilling to look outside the home for help due to concerns about the “shame” associated with treatment.  The adolescent that uses drugs/alcohol in a regular and frequent manner is quickly affected more so than the adult who uses in the same manner and duration. The social and emotional skills ideally acquired during this period of rapid change often are not learned when the youth is abusing drugs/alcohol, which results in psychosocial stunting of development. Drugs and alcohol have been the cause of many teenage traffic accidents, school drop out rates, teen pregnancy, crime, and suicide. Understanding adolescent drug use and potential addiction is attainable once good grasp of reality and examination techniques are acquired. It is important to identify the signs of addiction in youth and be able to arrest the decent into drug and alcohol addiction.

Do I need to go to rehab?

This is a question many facing drug addiction and alcoholism try to figure out on their own.  But every individual is different and may need to be assessed with a treatment counselor to assess their current situation and whether they need to be in a residential rehab setting.
Scientific research since the mid–1970s shows that treatment can help patients addicted to drugs and alcohol to stop using and drinking to avoid relapse, and successfully recover their lives. Based research, key principles have emerged that form the basis of effective treatment programs:

•    Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior.

•    No single treatment is appropriate for everyone.

•    Treatment needs to be readily available.

•    Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse.

•    Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical.

•    Counseling—individual and/or group—and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of drug abuse treatment.

•    Medications are an important element of treatment for many patients, especially when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.

•    An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs.

•    Many drug–addicted individuals also have other mental disorders.

•    Medically assisted detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long–term drug abuse.

•    Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.

•    Drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously, as lapses during treatment do occur.

Residential treatment programs can also be very effective, especially for those with more severe problems. For example, residential facilities are highly structured programs in which patients remain at a residence, typically for 30 days to 12 months. Treatment centers differ from other treatment approaches principally in their use of the community—treatment staff and those in recovery—as a key agent of change to influence patient attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors associated with drug use. The focus of rehab is on the re-socialization of the patient to a drug-free, crime–free lifestyle.  Please call today to discuss your needs for treatment.

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