Transcript Kids and Prescription Drugs (Pharming) Information and Prevention April 2009

Kids and Prescription
Drugs (Pharming)
Information and Prevention
April 2009
Training Objectives
Define Pharming and identify ways
teens are using prescription drugs to
get high.
Recognize where kids are getting
prescription drugs.
Identify the dangers associated with
teens using prescription and Over-theCounter (OTC) drugs.
Recognize the warning signs that a
child or teen who is doing drugs
exhibits.
Identify things parents can do if they
suspect their child is doing drugs.
What is Pharming?
Children and teens using prescription
drugs or over-the-counter (OTC)
medicines for recreational use.
Many teens are using these prescription
and OTC drugs at parties to get high.
Pharming can have serious
consequences, including death.
Kids as young as 12 are trying or using
prescription drugs.
According to the Partnership for a
Drug Free America, medications can
be abused in a number of ways. Some
teens simply swallow the pills or drink
liquids; others may crush the pills
before snorting or smoking the
powder. Others melt or dissolve the
medications, and then inject them.
Another popular way of abusing
prescription drugs is to mix them with
alcohol and street drugs into
cocktails.
How Prevalent Is It?
In the annual tracking study, conducted
by The Partnership for a Drug Free
America, one in five teens has abused a
prescription pain medication.
One in five report abusing prescription
stimulants and tranquilizers.
One in 10 has abused cough
medication.
Where Are Teens Getting
Drugs?
According to parents: Teens can easily
buy OTC cough and cold remedies at
any supermarket, drugstore or
convenience store, where these
products are sold. They can also get
them from home, or order them over
the Internet. Even if kids do not order
OTC drugs on-line, they can surf the
web to find information and videos on
what drugs to try and mix together.
What Are Kids Using?
The National Survey on Drug Use and
Health identifies pain relievers,
stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers
as being commonly abused.
Eleven percent of teens (aged 12-17)
reported lifetime non-medical use of
pain relievers and four percent reported
lifetime non-medical use of stimulants.
Facts About Prescription Drugs
According to Kids Health, the most
commonly used prescription drugs fall
into three categories:
 Opioids such as OxyContin, Vicodin,
and Demerol are used for pain, cough
or diarrhea.
 Central Nervous System Depressants
such as Nembutal, Valium and Xanax
are used to treat anxiety, panic attacks
and sleeplessness.
Stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall
and Strattera are used to treat
narcolepsy, ADHD, depression, obesity
and asthma.
 Many kids don’t see the dangers of
these medications, because they
think if they are prescribed by a
doctor, they are safe to use.
Dangers of Prescription Drugs
Abusing prescription drugs can have
serious consequences. According to
Kids Health, a single dose of an opioid
can lower someone's breathing rate and
even kill, when it's taken by the wrong
person, in the wrong circumstances.
The risk is higher when opioids are
taken with other substances like alcohol,
antihistamines and central nervous
system (CNS) depressants.
Taking CNS depressants with other
medications, such as prescription
painkillers, some OTC cold and
allergy medications, or alcohol can
slow a person's heartbeat and
breathing. This can lead to death.
(Kids Health)
Alcohol and Medications
According to Parents,The Anti-Drug:
mixing alcohol with certain medications
can cause nausea and vomiting,
headaches, drowsiness, fainting and
loss of coordination.
Risks for users include internal
bleeding, difficulty in breathing and
heart problems.
Effects of Stimulants
Kids Health states the following effects of
taking stimulants:
 Heart failure or seizures.
 Development of a dangerously high
body temperature or an irregular
heartbeat.
 Taking several high doses over a short
period of time may make a drug abuser
aggressive or paranoid.
 May be habit forming.
Effects of Over-The-Counter
(OTC) Drugs
Dextromethorphan (DXM) can be found
in cough medicines. High doses can
cause problems with the senses
(especially vision and hearing) and can
lead to confusion, stomach pain,
numbness and even hallucinations.
Teens are using these OTC medications
to get highs.
Warning Signs a Child Is
Abusing Prescription/OTC Drugs
Unexplained disappearance of
medicines from medicine cabinet.
Visits to pro-drug Internet sites devoted
to teaching others how to get and
abuse prescription and OTC drugs.
Declining grades; loss of interest in
hobbies and usual activities.
Changes in physical appearance,
hygiene, behavior and friends.
Disrupted eating or sleeping patterns.
Child has cough or cold, prescription,
or other unidentifiable medications
among their personal belongings
although they have not been ill.
(Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
Safeguarding Prescriptions
Due to the easy access of the family
medicine cabinet, there are things
parents can do to safeguard their
children from taking prescription drugs
to get high.
Parents should do an inventory of the
contents of the medicine cabinet,
kitchen cabinets, dressers, or
anywhere else medicine may be stored.
If necessary, parents may have to
monitor pill quantities and medicine
levels in prescription and OTC drug
containers.
Drugs should be put away. If an adult
currently needs them, they should be
put in a place where they can get to
them, but not where their children can
find them.
If there are drugs left over from a
previous illness or injury, they should
be disposed of.
Parents should urge their friends to
perform medicine inventories of
their own. This is especially true in
the case of the parents of their
children’s friends.
(The Partnership for a Drug Free America)
What Else Can Parents Do?
According to the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration,
(SAMHSA), parents should learn about
the abuse of prescription drugs and
educate themselves on the dangers.
Parents should look for opportunities
to talk to their kids about prescription
drug abuse and other substance abuse
issues.
In our society, there seems to be a pill
to cure every illness. When parents
see ads and television shows that
suggest there is a pill for every ailment,
they should discuss this with their kids.
It is important for parents to know the
friends of their children and what they
like to do, so they can be alerted to
unusual hang outs or activities.
Getting acquainted with the parents of
their children’s friends is a good idea
too, so there will be a network of adults
who can be trusted to monitor the
safety of the children at all times.
What To Do If A Teen Does
Have a Drug Problem
According to The Partnership for a Drug
Free America, teen drug abuse is tied to
two different urges:
 The desire to feel good by experimenting
with drugs, while also trying to fit in.
 Using drugs to help deal sources of
stress, whether it is schoolwork,
relationships, or conflicts with family or
friends.
If a parents thinks their child is using, The
Partnership for a Drug Free America lists
these points parents should follow:
 The power of love and family support is
essential. There will need to be a frank
discussion between parents and their
child.
 Parents should not make the discussion
an attack.
 If a child seems to be under the
influence of alcohol or drugs, that is not
the best time to talk to them.


Parents should wait for a calm
moment, and then explain why they
are worried about a certain behavior.
Children should be given the
opportunity to explain. Parents must
really listen and not do all the talking.
It is important for parents to share
their values and speak frankly. They
should let their child know how dead
set they are against drugs.


“I” messages are very important. It
explains how a child’s drug use
affects their parents and family.
If a child seems evasive or if their
explanation is not convincing,
parents need to consult their doctor
or a professional substance abuse
counselor to rule out illness and to
ask for advice.


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If there are emotional issues, parents
may also want to take their child to a
professional counselor.
Even if a child seems non-responsive
or belligerent, if parents suspect drug
use, they should get help
immediately.
A health professional skilled in
diagnosing adolescents with alcohol
or drug problems can perform a
thorough evaluation.
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
Parents may want to get involved in
an intervention program to learn
techniques that will help convince a
teen drug user to accept help.
For drug abusers, there are self-help,
outpatient, day care, residency and
24-hour hospitalization programs.
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The right program depends on the
circumstances and the degree of drug
involvement. Professionals can help
families make an informed decision.
Whatever the choice, if a program is
to succeed, the family needs to be a
part of it. Personal or family
counseling may be needed. Joining a
support group where families can
learn about co-dependency and
prevention of future drug use, may
also be needed.

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Family doctors, local hospitals, school
counselors, or county mental health
organizations can supply families with
information about programs in their
area. Parents can also call the national
helpline at 800-662-HELP for advice or
how to contact a local provider.
No matter what, parents need to
remember that they can not give up.
Their child is the same little boy or girl
they raised, they are just way over their
heads and they need their parents more
than ever.
For More Information
Family Guide (SAMHSA),
http://family.samhsa.gov/monitor/howpres
drug.aspx
Kids Health,
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/dru
gs/prescription_drug_abuse.html
Parents, The Anti-Drug,
www.theantidrug.com
The Partnership For A Drug Free America,
http://www.drugfree.org/#
Missouri Department of Social Services
State Technical Assistance Team
Address:
PO Box 208
Jefferson City, MO
65102-0208
Telephone:
(573) 751-5980
(800) 487-1626
(8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST,
Monday – Friday)
Email:
[email protected]