| |
Prescription and Over the Counter Drugs
The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids (pain killers), depressants (used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders) and stimulants (prescribed for narcolepsy, ADHD, and obesity). The most commonly abused over the counter drug is cough medicines containing the drug dextromethorphan (DXM), abusing DXM effects motor skills, causes numbness, nausea, and on rare occasions brain damage. Teenagers abuse prescription and over the counter drugs more then all other illicit drugs except marijuana. Not only are these drugs more readily available but they also come with the perception that they are a "safe" high, leading more individuals to try and abuse these drugs. However, these drugs can be just as dangerous as illicit drugs when taken improperly. Long term use of these can lead to physical dependency and addiction; these drugs have the same addictive potential as illicit drugs. Abuse can lead to paranoia, dangerously high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, and breathing difficulties leading to death.
The recent rise in prescription drug abuse has prompted The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to release new guidelines for the proper disposal of unused prescription drugs. To find the recommended disposal methods visit the websites below.
For more information on Prescription Drugs visit these sites:
|
