Prescription Drug Abuse in Teenagers Essay

Although prescription medicate drug drug drug drug drugs atomic number 18 non harmful if economic consumptiond correctly, prescription drug abomination is luxuriously in teen yearsrs. Most produces would never cogitate their teens argon helping themselves to prescription medicate sitting on iodins restitution. The justness is, prescription drug malignment in teenagers has become very familiar nowadays. The drugs are easily accessible at home, or cheap to sully at school. They are highly addictive and burn rase aim death. Putting hotshots prescriptions in a safe place whitethorn save a childs life. Prescription drug dependance commonly starts with experimentation.Teenagers may be trying prescription drugs beca procedure their friends are doing it or it may just be out of curiosity. Some teenagers impart turn to prescription drugs to for prepare their problems. As the addiction progresses, it becomes harder and harder to stop using the prescription drugs (Sm ith, 2010). experimentation rarely leads to a good outcome. If champions child starts with a simple experiment of prescription drug use, odds are it will ultimately end with addiction. Smith (2010), states Addiction is a complex indisposition characterized by compulsive drug use.People who are addicted sapidity an overwhelming, uncontrollable pick out for drugs ( medicine abuse and addiction, para. 1). When atomic number 53 has repeated drug use it will permanently alter the wittiness. The pine-lasting effect on the adept changes atomic number 53s ability to think, use good judgment, control ones behavior, or feel pattern without the drug. It is the drug cravings and compulsions to use that make the addiction so powerful. These cravings and compulsions to use are partly cause by the changes the drugs make to ones brain (Smith, 2010).The average prescription drug abuser will start amid the ages of 12 and 17. Every day about 2,500 teenagers in this age comp both abuse a p rescription drug for the first time (Havens, 2009). The scrap of high school students who are abusing prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone (OxyCotin), a potent and highly addictive opiate, or sedative is on the rise (Freedman, (2006), para. 3). Stimulants are the most common utilise, next is opiates, followed by tranquilizers, and accordingly sedatives (Parenting Teens, 2005).The pain relievers such as Vicoden or OxyCotin are use to give a high, whereas the sedatives such as Xanax and Valium are used to relax or calm. These drugs can lead to dependence and addiction. Stimulants such as Adder tout ensemble, Ritalin, Dexedrine, or Provigil decrease ones appetite but increases ones alertness and attention. These are touch-and-go because they can cause addiction, seizures, or heart attacks. Stimulants are often used to lose weight of for studying. Steroids are used to built ones bodies or embolden athletic performance.The dangers conglomerate in consuming steroids are me ntal and physiological health effects as well as serious intimate effects (Havens, 2009). Findings from a 2005 survey filmed by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that approximately 21% of the U. S. population age 12 and older discipline using any pillowcase of prescription drug nonmedically in their lifetime, 16% report us of opiate- attribute pain killers, 8% report tranquilizer use, 8% report stimulant use, and 2% report sedative use (Ford, 2008, para. 10). The study also found that substance abuse can cause users to offend the law as well as impair good judgment.However, it has been found that the violations of the law are followed by the abuse of prescription drugs, or a nonher(prenominal) il ratified substances. Therefore if ones teenager is addicted to prescription drugs, legal difficulties will probably follow. The researchers consider substance abuse is a definite road to a woebegone lifestyle (Ford, 2008). Reported prescription drug abuse by high sc hool seniors in 2005 Parenting Teens (2005).According to Freedman (2006), an 18-year-old who lives in San Francisco believes as long as the prescription medicine is taken properly, it is much safer than any bridle-path drug. According to the findings of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America study, forty share said prescription were much safer than illegal drugs while 31 percent said that there was nothing defective with using prescription drugs at a time in a while (Prescription-Drug Use by Teens, (2006), para. 1). Teenagers think that because a medication has a prescription for an individual, it makes it safe for everyone. Several fixingss are involved in prescribing certain medications such as medical conditions, age, other prescriptions on may be taking and the diagnosis of the individual.Most teenagers do not consider these factors when helping themselves to medications prescribed to someone else. Prescription drugs are at large(p) for a teenager to acquire either fro m their doctors or from their own medicine cabinets. Most parents are not aware of the risks involved in loss a bottle of prescription medication lying on the counter for everyone to have access. It will start with taking one or deuce at a time and then the teenager ultimately talk to steeling the entire bottle, buying the prescription medications at school from classmates or even lying to their doctors to obtain their own prescriptions.The increasing popularity of nonmedical prescription drug use is based on the putative advantages of prescription drugs over street drugs the drugs are easier to obtain, there is less likelihood of arrest, use is to a greater extent socially accepted, and there is a perception the prescription drugs are safer (Ford, (2008), para. 10). Prevention is the best appliance concerning teenagers and prescription drug abuse. Havens, (2009), Most teenagers say parents are not discussing the dangers of prescription drugs with them (6 Steps to Prevent Prescri ption Drug Abuse in Teens, para. ). It is the parents responsibility to monitor closely the prescription medication in the home and purchase a lock box if necessary to commemorate ones teenager safe.One needs to educate ones teenagers in the dangers of prescription medication and the factors that go into prescribing those medications to each individual. shoot down it as far as asking the family physician to speak with ones teenager if necessary. Sometimes they listen to strangers better than their own parents. condition the time to ensure there are no or outdated medications in the home.If these medications are no longer needed, dispose of them properly by flushing those (Havens, 2009). Parents are not always aware of how dangerous their own medication can be to their teenagers. MSNBC (2010). Parents also need to educate themselves in the signs associated with prescription drug abuse. Some of the thing one needs to watch for with their teenager behavior is neglecting responsibil ities, getting into legal trouble, and even problems with the relationships with ones friends.If ones teenager is starting to fall on school grades, not do chores at home, or even skipping school a pattern of neglecting responsibilities in parentage to develop. Behavior to watch for in relationships with friends would be losing longtime friends, and sometimes clenched fist fighting with them. One may also be fighting more than usual with ones siblings or ones boss at the job. The signs of legal trouble can be anywhere from simple disorderly conduct to any type of major crime. If ones teenager suddenly becomes involved with the law, something is wrong (Smith, 2010).The most noticeable physical signs of a prescription drug addiction is if ones pupils are bigger or smaller than normal, ones nerve centres are bloodshot, prepare habit deteriorate, unusual odor on breath or clothing, thickset speech, bad coordination, and tremors (Smith, 2010). Psychological warnings one can detect ar e (Smith, 2010), undetermined change in personality or attitude, sudden mood swings, irritability, or anger outbursts, periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness, lack of motivation appears lethargic or spaced out, appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason (Drug abuse and addiction, para. 9). admonition signs that tend to show more in teenagers are when one starts existence secretive about their friends, one has a new interest in ones clothing styles, and ones teenager is suddenly in need or more privacy then usual. If one has money, valuables, or prescription medication missing, one may need to consider the possibility of ones teenager developing a prescription drug addiction. another(prenominal) common signs are depression, withdrawing from the family, using incense to hide the smell, or eye drops to cover the dilated or bloodshot (Smith, 2010).Drug rehabilitation can be a costly, but necessary, adventure. According to ChooseHelp, (2010), the professi onal staff matter at any comprehensive and quality rehab facility disallows bargain manipulation, and you need to be prepared to spend a significant amount of money to get a quality and effective treatment broadcast (The Cost of Drug Rehab, para. 3). Considering all cost involved in housing, feeding, drug therapies, and professional enfolding, prices can range from a few thousand dollars a month all the way up to $30,000 per month (ChooseHelp, 2010).Several insurance companies will borrow most of the financial burden. One needs to contact ones private insurance company and receive all details pertaining to this type of treatment. If one contacts ones local State Drug and alcohol Rehabilitation Council, there are programs available to those that cannot pay nor have any insurance. One needs to take into consideration the seriousness of this addiction. When it involves a prescription drug addiction, one cannot let the cost be a factor in the determination of the treatment.Accordi ng to ChooseHelp (2010), family programs can help to heal a family harmed by the destruction and heartache of abuse and bring back a healthier dynamic to the family as a whole (Families Need to be a Part of the Process, para. 3). One needs to decide how much family involvement will be in the rehab process. Family involvement is extremely important not only for the family but for the addict as well.When family member are instruction about the addiction from trained professionals as well as other families facing the same situation, families are taught what is most beneficial for the teen and it assures the family that they are not esponsible for the addiction (ChooseHelp, 2010). When seeking a prescription drug treatment center for teenager one needs to consider a program involving patient education as well as family education. The program should passing play counseling sessions with a therapist or psychologist as well as peer group session involving several families. One needs to recognise a facility close to home to achieve adequate family involvement (ChooseHelp, 2010).When the rehabilitation program is successfully completed it is also important to fall out care in an outside group such as alcoholic beverage Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Information for these meetings can be obtained in ones local phone book. If the teenager in the home has been acting differently and medication is running out sooner than usual, take the steps necessary to help him or her. Admitting he or she may be addicted to prescription drugs is not easy but the help one can receive for him or her may save his or her life. net profit attention to the warning signs, ask questions at the doctor appointments and try not to have addictive medication prescribed to ones child, especially if the child has had a problem in the past with any type of addiction. Be careful where prescription medications are located and consider investment funds in a lock box. It may be a stopping point that saves ones teenagers life. If one discovers ones teenager has a prescription drug addiction, or any other addiction, do not be hydrophobic to seek help. Money does not need to be an issue in saving ones life.Referenceshttp//www.choosehelp.com/drug-rehab/families-need-to-be-a-part-of-the-processhttp//www.choosehelp.com/drug-rehab/the-costs-of-drug-rehabhttp//today.msnbc.msn.com/id/12803776/ns/health-addictions/