June 22, 2007 12:08 am
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Most households have medicine cabinets or cupboards that hold the family's prescription and over-the-counter (OCT) drugs. Many of these medicines may be unused or expired. With the rapid increase in the number of teens abusing prescription drugs in recent years, it is important to clear out your medicine cabinets and monitor remaining amounts regularly.
Increasingly, teens are using Rx and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to get the same type of high as with marijuana, cocaine, and LSD. In 2005, 2.1 million teens abused prescription drugs. In fact, between 1995 and 2005, the number of admissions for prescription pain reliever abuse increased more than 300 percent.
To help you clear out your medicine cabinets, the Office of National Drug Control Policy recently issued federal guidelines on the proper disposal of your unused and expired medicines:
* Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.
* Mixing prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and putting them in impermeable, non-descript container, such as empty cans or sealable bags, will further ensure the drugs are not diverted.
* Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs doing so.
* It is also possible to turn in pharmaceuticals at some community solid waste programs. Where they exist, they are a good way to dispose of unused prescriptions.
It is a known fact that most kids get their first drugs from home or someone they know. They can mistakenly rationalize that because a doctor has prescribed them, they really can't be all that bad ... or can they? Medications used properly can be heaven sent, but when a person not needing them takes them or uses an incorrect dosage, it can lead to a hellish nightmare.
Depressants ... or downers, are prescribed to treat a variety of health conditions including anxiety and panic attacks, tension, severe stress reactions and sleep disorders. Also referred to as sedatives and tranquilizers, depressants can slow normal brain function.
Health risks related to depressant abuse include loss of coordination, respiratory depression, dizziness due to lowered blood pressure, slurred speech, poor concentration, feelings of confusion, and in extreme cases, coma and possible death.
Stimulants ... or uppers, are used to treat a variety of conditions such as asthma, respiratory problems, obesity, sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These drugs can produce euphoric effects and counteract sluggish feelings. Health risks related to stimulant abuse include increased heart and respiratory rates, excessive sweating, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, hostility and aggression, and in severe abuse, suicidal/homicidal tendencies, convulsions and cardiovascular collapse.
Pain killers ... are drugs commonly prescribed for chronic pain management or pain relief and are only legally available by prescription. Health risks related to painkiller abuse include lack of energy, inability to concentrate, nausea and vomiting, and apathy. Significant doses of painkillers can cause respiratory depression.
Prevent a medication error or possible misuse of medication by properly disposing unused and expired medications lurking in your family's medicine cabinets.
This information is from the Anti-Drug Parenting Tips Newsletter. For more information or to sign up to receive the e-mail newsletter, visit TheAntiDrug.com.
Posted by Rose Marie Williamson
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