Adolescent Use of Prescription Drugs Presented by Joël L. Phillips, CARS, Executive Director CDE- County Coordinators Meeting September 22, 2009

 Background Information  Prescription drugs  Prevalence  Misconceptions  Accessibility  What Can Be Done?  General  Coordinator specific  Next Steps

 Prescription Drugs: A drug only available by authorization from a health care provider.  Pain Relievers (Opiates/Narcotics- Prescribed for pain control/relief)  Depressants (Sedatives/Tranquilizers- Prescribed for anxiety/ sleep difficulties)  Stimulants (Prescribed for hyperactivity/obesity)  OTC (Over the Counter): Are medications available without prescriptions.  Used for a range of problems ▪ Colds, sleep disorder, diets, allergies, motion sickness

 Use of medications in a way that is not prescribed by a licensed health care provider.  Using drugs prescribed to others.  Using drugs in a way not directed by a doctor.

 National  Nearly 1 in 5 teens (19% or 4.5 million) have used prescription drugs to get high.  1 in 10 teens (10% or 2.4 million) reported using cough medicine to get high.  7 of the top 10 drugs abused by 12 th graders are prescription drugs or OTC medications.  2007 MTF – 1 in 10 seniors used Vicodin and over 5% used OxyContin  California  Prescription drug use is accelerating (over 2 time periods- css data)  Prescription drug use exceed all other drugs other than marijuana

 Pain relievers are most widely used of all prescription drugs across all populations.  PDM is closely associated with age – percentage rates increase among youth as they get older – peaking in their late teens (18-20) falling off after 20.  Older adults exhibit lower rates of misuse – however because there are more of them, results in greater overall use.  Whites are predominately the users of prescription drugs (approximately 75%).  Young females (12-17) use slightly more than young males. This changes as they get older.

 More youths are using prescription drugs at an increasing rate  Considerable misconceptions  Dangers– present/future

 Availability/Accessibility high  Effects  Belief its safer, less risky  Boredom  Deal with adolescent stress  Competitive pressure; Help with school work (Academic Doping)  Party culture (Pharming)  Attain “ideal” physical appearance

 40% believe prescription drugs are “safer” than illicit.  30% believe there’s “nothing wrong” using prescription drugs.  29% believe they are not addictive  55% believe there is no harm in using prescription drugs

 From 2007 NSDUH:  56.5% got them from someone they know  18.1% obtained them from a physician  4.1% purchased them from a “dealer” .5% bought them on the Internet  From 2005 PATS Survey:  60% of teens say they are easy to obtain from parents medicine cabinet  50% from other peoples prescriptions  More than 50% of teens said “they are available everywhere”  Another Survey:  1 in 4 kids with a legitimate prescription had been approached by others.

 Increase Awareness at Schools- (Administrators/Teachers/Students)  How? ▪ Website ▪ Informational brochures ▪ Training programs (for Teachers/Prevention Educators)  Engage Youth  How? ▪ Developing materials (posters, informational flyers) ▪ Social marketing campaigns  Parental Awareness  How? ▪ PTA ▪ Informational brochures ▪ Website  Restricting Availability/Access  How? ▪ Active parental involvement ▪ Safeguard procedures (know your drugs!)

 Communicate with school prevention educators  Present them factsheets  Direct them to website  Offer training PowerPoint  Work with schools on developing a plan of action  Awareness campaign (teachers/students)  Involving parents (PTA)  Enhancing prevention curriculum  If applicable, work with local SAPs  Screening Assessments include PDM

 Handouts  Getting Results paper  CARS – Teen PDM – what can you do.  Website  Training materials (PowerPoint)

 Input from coordinators (today)  Work with CDE