The good news is that the vast majority of our teens do not abuse prescription drugs. Healthy Kids Survey results show past month and lifetime use to be in the single-to-low double digits. Yet the consequences for those who do abuse these drugs can be harsh. Over the past 15 years, drug related ER visits and deaths have increased dramatically. These deaths often result from the drugs being laced with dangerous additives such as Fentanyl, from combining the drugs with alcohol, or abusing of multiple drugs at the same time (called “polysubstance" use.)
PARENTING TIPS ON PRESCRIPTION AND OTHER DRUGS
Given the dangers of these drugs, the following preventative measures should be taken by parents
Discuss don't lecture! Have early and frequent discussions with your teen about the effects and dangers of these drugs.
Take inventory. Keep track of and secure all Rx drugs at home, preferably in a medicine lockbox (found online) or hidden space to ensure they aren't being diverted to others. This especially pertains to ADHD medications, benzodiazepines ("benzos") such as Xanax, opioids and those listed below.
Don't keep old prescriptions around. Properly dispose of unused Rx medications. While it may be tempting to keep pain medication "just in case you might need them", the safer course of action is to dispose of all expired and unused medication since family and friends are the primary source of prescription pain pills for teens. (The other is the internet).
The DEA, together with local law enforcement agencies hold National Prescription Take Back Drug Days to facilitate a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing unused Rx drugs. For a list of take back locations, click here. Additionally, certain local police stations and pharmacies take back leftover prescription drugs year round.
Monitor Use. If your child is prescribed pain medication for a surgery or injury, don't hand the bottle over; instead, dispense only as needed. Wean off these medicines as soon as possible. Consider non-opioid alternatives to manage your child's pain.
Pay Attention. Know the signs of drug use such as pinpoint or dilated pupils, fatigue, weight loss, drug paraphernalia (e.g., burnt tin foil), wearing long sleeves, etc.
Eyeball your Child. Stay up to greet your teens when they come home from an evening out and check their eyes. (Also, if possible, do so during the day when they have been out unsupervised for a while.) For a guide to check pupils, click here.
Take a Look Around. If you suspect your teen may be using drugs, search your child's rooms and cars for drug paraphernalia, drugs or evidence of their use. Monitor your teen’s text messages for any references to these drugs, including their slang terms, as listed below.
Also monitor their social media as teens often brag about their drinking and drugging on Instagram, etc. Check their Internet history as many teens turn to the Internet to buy prescription drugs from illegal pharmacies. And there are thousands of websites that promote drug use, with information and advice to teens.
Get help. Consider seeking professional help at the earliest signs of Rx drug misuse or abuse of other drugs. Get an evaluation to determine your treatment options. Purchase and know how to use Naloxone as a precautionary measure against opioid overdose — it literally saves lives.
Prescription (Rx) Drugs Commonly Abused by Our High School Students.
ADDERALL, RITALIN and Other ADHD Drugs.
Adderall and Ritalin are two popular drugs which are used primarily to treat the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”). Other ADHD drugs include Dexedrine, Focalin, Vyvanse and Concerta.
Stimulant Classification. These drugs are classified as central nervous system stimulants, which means they speed up and heighten certain bodily processes. Those who have been diagnosed properly benefit.
Adderall and Ritalin abuse has become ubiquitous in high school and college environments. For an article on the use of Adderall by students in one of our Marin County high schools, click here. Increasing numbers of teens and young adults who don’t have ADHD inaccurately believe taking these drugs will help improve their ability to maintain focus and productivity while studying, taking tests, working or participating in sports. Some use these drugs recreationally for the feeling of taking speed.
Side Effects. Common symptoms of Adderall abuse include dry mouth, headache, hoarseness, nausea, digestive issues, reduced appetite, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, irritability, excessive fatigue, pounding or fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. Ritalin abuse runs the risk of similar negative side effects.
Dangerous Consequences. With long-term or high dose abuse, the symptoms can compound and lead to even more dangerous effects. These include weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, dizziness, slowed or difficult speech, chest pain, hives or rashes, changes in vision, aggressive behavior, paranoia, mania and seizures. Since these are stimulants, serious cardiovascular complications include increased heart rate, increased body temperature to dangerous levels, heart attacks, cardiac arrest or strokes. Symptoms of Overdose. These include panic attacks, hyperventilation, cardiac rhythm abnormalities, hallucinations, uncontrollable tremors, profound confusion or delirium, vertigo, loss of consciousness and coma. Post-effect Crash. Like Cocaine or any other stimulant, the “up feeling” from Adderall and Ritalin is followed by a crash, a feeling of fatigue, depression and decreased alertness. This can lead to additional abuse to obtain the high.
Tolerance, Dependency and Addiction. Unprescribed abuse of Adderall can be very addictive. Long-term abuse can lead to increased tolerance. Often, as use increases, it becomes impossible to ever recreate the initial high. This can lead to dependency, which in turn can lead to addiction. Over time, the resulting increase in dopamine activity can cause subtle brain changes that reinforce drug behavior to the point of being quite difficult to reverse on one’s own. Short versus Long-term Use. On a short-term basis, non-ADHD users may stay up all night, read more and finish more problems, or work harder, but on a long-term basis, sleep/wake cycles are interrupted and the drugs do not improve one’s ability to learn or work. Non-ADHD users are learning or working in an “altered state” which is called “state dependent learning”. Someone who studies or works in an altered state may not remember the information when he or she returns to a non-altered state.
As Dr. Jan Maisel, a Marin County, California pediatrician has stated, “if someone stays up all night, whether assisted by a medicine or not, and does all this work and then goes off to take a test on this work or make a presentation, if they haven't slept sufficient hours, they are much less able to put the work that they did into their long-term memory”. Studies show that students who abuse Adderall and Ritalin are more likely to have lower grades than students who do not abuse the substance.
Easy Access. A 2016 survey among 18-28 year olds found that roughly 63% obtained these drugs from friends, 18% from classmates and 20% from family. Using for Recreational Purposes or Combining with Alcohol. Popping ADHD drugs with alcohol keeps users awake for more partying as these drugs counter the depressive effects of alcohol. The euphoria and happiness from these drugs, as well as reportedly better and more frequent sex, can lead to recreational abuse at parties and nightclubs.
Gateway drug. Unprescribed Adderall, Ritalin and other ADHD drugs are becoming known as gateway drugs to Cocaine, Ecstasy, Heroin and Methamphetamine (“Meth”), especially when those drugs are cheaper. Meth and Adderall are almost chemical siblings — the methyl group simply allows the Meth to race through the body and hit harder. After that, Meth breaks down and metabolizes into amphetamine. Meth and amphetamine cause the same side effects, same potential for overdose and same risk of physical dependence and addiction.
Research done at UC Berkeley identified a relationship between ADHD with use of stimulants in childhood and dependence on other stimulants in adulthood. According to another study, adolescent rats given repeated doses of Ritalin were more likely to self-administer cocaine. Slang Terms. These include Kiddy Cocaine, Truckdrivers, Uppers, Speed, Double Trouble, Christmas trees, Skippy, Jif, Bennies, Beans, Black Beauties, Roses, Hearts, Crosses, LA Turnaround, Addies (for Adderall) and Rittys, Rits (for Ritalin).
Prevention. A critical part of prevention is to inform your child that there is no documented association between ADHD drug abuse and increased study abilities or intelligence. The more you speak with your child about the dangers of drug use, the less likely your child will abuse drugs. If your child is prescribed ADHD drugs, monitor their use to ensure that the drugs are not being diverted to others. XANAX and Other Drugs Used to Treat Anxiety Drugs such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, Halcion and Restoril are in a category of drugs called Benzodiazepines (“Benzos”) and are typically prescribed to treat patients suffering from anxiety and panic disorders. They also aid sleep and are prescribed for other reasons, e.g., Klonopin and Valium are also anti-seizure drugs. Benzos are central nervous system depressants, slowing down aspects of mental and physical health. They are highly addictive if taken over a prolonged period or in large quantities. It is important to remember that teens and young adults are more susceptible to addiction because of their developing brains. Xanax. Perhaps the most commonly abused Benzo, Xanax is the trade name of the generic medication, Alprazolam.
Street names include Xannies/Zannies, Handlebars/Bars or Blue Footballs. Xanax bars, two milligrams, shaped like a bar and divided into quarters, are becoming increasingly common in high schools and colleges.
Signs of abuse. These include, sleepiness, lethargy, lacking in motivation to engage in normal activities of daily life, slurred speech, monotone voice, appearing distracted, agoraphobia (not wanting to leave the house) and reclusiveness (avoiding other people). Benzos are known to slow down respiratory rates which alone can be dangerous as breathing slows. But when mixed with alcohol, another depressant (not uncommon among teens and young adults), their combined effect can lead to serious injury, coma or death. After long term use, individuals may become even more reclusive, agoraphobic and scared of people, behaving more strangely, and have twitching eyes and a tense neck. Slang terms. These include Candy, Downers, Downs, Chill Pills, Tranks, Tranqs, Totem Poles, Sleeping Pills, French Fries, Blues, Z-bar and Bricks.
Mixing Benzos with Alcohol. Combining Benzos with alcohol is especially dangerous. Both substances are depressants that can greatly relax muscles and bring the central nervous system to a crawl, which can result in unconsciousness, coma or death. A slang term for a mix of prescription drugs with alcohol is "recipe".
OPIOIDS - Prescription (Rx) and Non-Prescription
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illicit drug Heroin, as well as regular prescription (Rx) pain relievers such as Oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), Codeine, Morphine, Methadone, Fentanyl, among others. Opioids are one of the most abused drugs in the U.S. They are easy to get ahold of, readily prescribed and very addictive - a dangerous combination. Of particular concern is that opioids can cause measurable symptoms of addiction in less than three days! The 2014 National Survey on Drug use and Health has estimated that there were 4.3 million non-medical users of pain relievers in the U.S. in 2014, a population second only in size to marijuana users.
The U.S. is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Drug overdoses today are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S. — more than car crashes and gun deaths combined — and opioids are driving this epidemic. The CDC announced in December 2016 that more people died from drug overdoses in 2015 than in any other year on record and 60% of those deaths came from opioids. This is a uniquely American issue. While Americans comprise less than 5% of the world’s populace, we consume 80% of the world’s opioids and 99% of the world’s Hydrocodone and Oxycodone.
PRESCRIPTION (Rx) OPIOIDS. In 2014, more young adults died from prescription drugs (mostly opioid deaths), than overdoses from any other drug, including heroin and cocaine combined. Many more needed emergency room treatments.
Nearly a half million teens (aged 12-17 years old) used prescription painkillers non-medically for the first time in 2014. These drugs are easily accessible from family or friends’ medicine cabinets. The prescribing rates for prescription opioids among adolescents and young adults nearly doubled from 1994-2007. Most teens do not believe that painkillers are dangerous, because they are prescribed by a doctor and are not illegal. The terms “pharming” or “pharm party” refer to swapping or sharing Rx drugs. The term “trail mix” or “skittles” refers to mixing various prescription drugs at pharm parties. Fortunately, pharm parties are not common in our high schools. Opioids bind to the brain’s opioid receptors. Once attached, they initiate a cascade of neurochemical activity which signals a massive influx of dopamine. The signals sent to the brain block pain, slow breathing and have a general calming and antidepressant effect. Signs of Misuse. These include constricted, small pupils (pinprick or pinpoint in size), noticeable euphoria (feeling high), marked sedation, intermittent nodding off or loss of consciousness, respiratory depression (shallow or slow breathing), nausea, vomiting, constipation, and analgesia (feeling no pain). Withdrawal symptoms can mimic flu symptoms. Slang terms. These include Hillbilly Heroin, Kickers, Oxy, OC, Oxycotton, Cotton or being Jammed (Oxycodone) and Jerry Rice (80mg tabs), Percs, Percodans (Percocet), Vic, Vikings, Vikes, Watson-377 (Vicodin) and Happy Pills and Big Boys. Mixing Alcohol and Opioid Painkillers. As with Benzos, both alcohol and opioid painkillers are central nervous system depressants. When combined, these substances can have a catastrophic interplay. Concurrent use can hasten an overdose due to a synergy in respiratory depression. While alcohol alone can have harmful effects on the liver, the risk of liver damage is severe as many painkillers also contain acetaminophen. Gateway to Heroin. Four out of five new heroin users started out by misusing prescription painkillers. HEROIN. Although rare, heroin use unfortunately exists in our high schools. With over one million heroin users in the U.S., heroin-related deaths are skyrocketing, made possible in part by the cheap and easily available supply of the drug.
Many of these deaths are also attributable to new government manufacturing requirements that make opioid prescription pills more difficult to crush and inject into the bloodstream, making prescription drug users shift to heroin. Heroin deaths rose 23% in 2015 and were higher than gun deaths. Over the past several years, heroin has resulted in too many tragic deaths of our teens and young adults. Signs of Use. After a “fix” or after smoking heroin, a heroin user will look “stoned”. Signs of use are very small pupils, glassy looking eyes (light colored eyes can turn bright blue), difficulty in keeping eyes open (appearing as nodding off — called “goofing off”), inability to finish sentences, slurred speech, shallow breathing, scratching, excessive smoking, loose facial muscles, blood stains on clothes from using needles, bloody tissues, track marks on hands, arms and legs, long sleeves in warm weather to hide track marks. Slang Terms. These include H, Horse, Smack, Junk, Dope, White Horse, China White, Skunk, Skag, Helldust, Brown Sugar, Thunder, Chiva and Chasing the Dragon. Kryptonite refers to marijuana with heroin. FENTANYL. Most alarming is the fact that prescription pills are sometimes being laced with fentanyl and other synthetic opiates. These counterfeit drugs are extremely deadly. These counterfeit drugs are extremely deadly. Use can result in seizures, coma and death. Fentanyl is at least 50 times more potent than heroin — a lethal dose is approximately two milligrams. The first Fentanyl crisis was in 2006 with fentanyl infused heroin. Since 2013-14 and there has been a new and ongoing Fentanyl crisis with fentanyl laced prescription pills.
COUGH AND COLD MEDICINE (Coricidin pills, Robitussin Cough Syrup). The primary ingredient is dextromethorphan or DXM, which can create a psychotic state. When taken in large quantities, these drugs because a high that produces hallucinations and a sense of dissociation.
Slang Terms
DXM abuse is also referred to as Triple C, skittles or robotripping. Codeine with Robitussin is called Cody, Captain Cody, Schoolboy or Tuss.
Another dangerous version of cough syrup contains Codeine and Promethazine, which is prescribed, but can be abused easily. Known as “Purple Drank”, it is often mixed with soda and is attributed to the loss of at least one of our youth.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Recommended Websites
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) provides information on prescription and over-the-counter drugs at www.nia.nih.gov. NIDA's teen website is at teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a teen website at www.JustThinkTwice.com and a parent website at www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com.
Recommended Reads
“Generation Rx” by Erin Marie Daly
“Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America's Drug Crisis" by David Sheff
"Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines” by Nic Sheff
Recommended Viewing. “Chasing the Dragon: The Life of An Opioid Addict” is a powerful 50-minute documentary produced by the DEA and FBI and focuses on the opioid epidemic among teens and young adults. It may be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqdmWRExOkQ.