Prescription Drug Awareness!

Our Goals Familiarize with commonly abused meds Inform about the hazards of addiction and abuse Provide convincing statistics Increase awareness of the world of medications

General Statistics 1 in 5 teenagers report having abused a prescription medication Over 2500 teenagers a day experiment with prescription medications taken from the home In 2009 in the United States about 21% of high school students have taken prescription drugs without a prescription Taken from WHO

UCI Statistics: Did You Know? Do you know a UCI student who has taken prescription A.D.D./A.D.H.D. drugs that were not intended for him/her? Freshman: 52% Sophomores: 36% Juniors: 47% Seniors: 58% Do you know someone who has required the aid of rehab services due to any prescription drug abuse? Freshman: 18% Sophomores: 14% Juniors: 22% Seniors: 15% Do you know someone who has died due to any prescription drug abuse? Freshman: 6% Sophomores: 5% Juniors: 8% Seniors: 6%

Addiction and Abuse: Definitions Addiction : physical and psychological dependence on a substance “Disease of brain reward” Abuse : use of prescription drugs that were not prescribed by a physician or used only for the experience or feeling they cause Also called drug misuse

Pain Killers (Often Opioids) Binds to opioid receptors in NS and GI tract Decreased perception, decreased reaction, and increased tolerance to pain HIGHLY abused Morphine, hydrocodone, codiene, oxycodone, fentanyl, propoxyphene, tramadol

Vicodin (hydrocodone) Vicodin is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol) Cheap and overly prescribed (easy to obtain) Americans spend over $484 billion annually in vicodin addictions. Vicodin use and addiction is linked to at least half of the major crimes in the US ~10-22% of car crashes involve drivers who use drugs such as Vicodin (NHTSA) Vicodin addiction showcased in popular television series House

Antidepressants/Anxiety Mostly SSRIs and SNRIs Inhibit the reuptake of serotonin/ norepinephrine for repeated receptor stimulation Sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, buproprion

Zoloft (sertraline) Used to treat major depression as well as OCD and anxiety disorders Overly prescribed, easy for teenagers to steal from parents Risk of dependency, suicide, reduced libido

Amphetamines/Psychostimul ants Affect levels of dopamine in the brain “study drugs”: enhances focus, concentration, attentiveness, confidence, self-esteem Heavily misused by students Adderall, vyvanse, desoxyn, ritalin

Adderall (amphetamine salts) Prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy Side effects: greatly increases bp, decreased appetite, akathisia, amphetamine psychosis (heavy abuse) Performance-enhancing use Weight-loss use High risk of dependency

Ritalin (methylphenidate) Also prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy Extensive side effects; hypersensitivity, dyskinesia, tachycardia High potential for abuse and addiction Abuse highest among college students (study longer, party longer)

Prevention Medical lock boxes for home use to prevent unauthorized access to prescription drugs Doesn’t fix anything; EDUCATE teens about the perils of abuse

Keep in Mind Misuse of these drugs is illegal and will result in imprisonment and fines (varying severity) Many harmful drug interactions; makes abuse even more hazardous Abuse is widespread; hospital, dentistry, pharmacy

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