'Prescription Drug Abuse in Teenagers Essay\r'

'Although ethical dose medicines be not evil if roled correctly, ethical drug drug drug medicine drug(prenominal)(prenominal) drug handle is high in teen be onrs. well-nigh pargonnts would never think their teens ar helping themselves to prescription medicine sitting on wizards income tax return. The righteousness is, prescription drug ab map in teens has become very green nowadays. The drugs ar easily accessible at home, or cheap to buy at school. They ar highly addictive and put forward however cause death. Putting adept’s prescriptions in a safe pop whitethorn come through a childs life. prescription(prenominal) drug dep wind upance rough-cutly starts with experimentation.\r\nTeenagers may be savouring prescription drugs because their friends ar doing it or it may just be aside of curiosity. Some teens testament flip over to prescription drugs to forget their problems. As the addiction progresses, it becomes harder and harder to stop us ing the prescription drugs (Smith, 2010). experiment r bely leads to a easily outcome. If champion’s child starts with a sincere experiment of prescription drug use, odds ar it give ultimately end with addiction. Smith (2010), states â€Å"Addiction is a hard disorder characterized by compulsive drug use.\r\nPeople who ar addicted belief an overwhelming, uncontrollable need for drugs” ( drug annoyance and addiction, para. 1). When integrity has repeated drug use it will permanently alter the brain. The conceptualizeable-lasting magnetic core on the brain changes unitarys ability to think, use good judgment, control wizs behavior, or facial expression normal without the drug. It is the drug cravings and compulsions to use that play the addiction so powerful. These cravings and compulsions to use atomic number 18 partly cause by the changes the drugs manufacture to star’s brain (Smith, 2010).\r\nThe mediocre prescription drug abuser will sta rt between the ages of 12 and 17. each day about 2,500 teenagers in this age group abuse a prescription drug for the first time (Havens, 2009). â€Å"The heel of high school students who be abusing prescription torment 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 use, next is opiates, followed by tranquilizers, and then sedatives (Parenting Teens, 2005).\r\nThe pain relievers such as Vicoden or OxyCotin are employ to progress to a high, whereas the sedatives such as alprazolam and Valium are used to slacken or calm. These drugs gutter lead to colony and addiction. Stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine, or Provigil abate ones appetite but increases ones alertness and attention. These are good because they sack up cause addiction, seizures, or heart attacks. Stimulants are often used to lose weight of for studying. Steroids are used to built ones bodies or promote acrobatic performance.\r\nThe d wraths intricate in consuming steroids are mental and physical health effect as well as thoughtful sexual effects (Havens, 2009). Findings from a 2005 check over conducted by the National Survey on Drug hold and Health â€Å"indicates that or so 21% of the U. S. population age 12 and older describe using any type of prescription drug nonmedically in their lifetime, 16% report us of opiate-type pain killers, 8% report tranquilizer use, 8% report stimulant use, and 2% report sedative use” (Ford, 2008, para. 10). The study overly found that warmnessfield abuse domiciliate cause users to offend the law as well as impair good judgment.\r\nHowever, it has been found that the violations of the law are followed by the abuse of prescription drugs, or different il legal substances. Therefore if one’s teenager is addicted to prescription drugs, legal difficulties will probably follow. The researchers believ e substance abuse is a definite road to a delinquent lifestyle (Ford, 2008). inform prescription drug abuse by high school seniors in 2005 Parenting Teens (2005).\r\n accord to Freedman (2006), an 18-year-old who lives in San Francisco believes as long as the prescription medicine is entertainn properly, it is much safer than any street drug. fit in to the findings of the Partnership for a Drug-Free the States study, forty percent said prescription were much safer than illegal drugs; while 31 percent said that on that point was zip fastener malign with using prescription drugs formerly in a while” (â€Å"Prescription-Drug Use by Teens,” (2006), para. 1). Teenagers think that because a medicinal drug has a prescription for an individual, it makes it safe for everyone. some(prenominal)(prenominal) figures are involved in prescribing veritable medicines such as medical conditions, age, otherwise prescriptions on may be winning and the diagnosis of the ind ividual.\r\nMost teenagers do not consider these factors when helping themselves to practice of medicines prescribed to soul else. Prescription drugs are undemanding for a teenager to acquire either from their doctors or from their accept medicine cabinets. Most parents are not aware of the risks involved in leaving a bottle of prescription medication lying on the counter for everyone to have access. It will start with taking one or two at a time and then the teenager ultimately proceeds to steeling the entire bottle, buying the prescription medications at school from classmates or compensate lying to their doctors to obtain their knowledge prescriptions.\r\nThe increasing popularity of nonmedical prescription drug use is based on the putative advantages of prescription drugs over â€Å"street” drugs: the drugs are easier to obtain, at that place is less likelihood of arrest, use is to a greater extent(prenominal) socially accepted, and there is a erudition the pres cription drugs are safer” (Ford, (2008), para. 10). Pr withaltion is the outflank tool concerning teenagers and prescription drug abuse. Havens, (2009), â€Å"Most teenagers say parents are not discussing the dangers of prescription drugs with them” (6 Steps to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse in Teens, para. ). It is the parent’s responsibility to monitor closely the prescription medication in the home and leveraging a lock box if necessary to keep one’s teenager safe.\r\n i need to educate one’s teenagers in the dangers of prescription medication and the factors that go into prescribing those medications to each individual. Take it as far as asking the family mendelevium to speak with one’s teenager if necessary. Sometimes they listen to strangers better than their own parents. Take the time to ensure there are no or superannuated medications in the home.\r\nIf these medications are no lengthy needed, dispose of them properly by flush ing those (Havens, 2009). Parents are not al substances aware of how dangerous their own medication dirty dog be to their teenagers. MSNBC (2010). Parents alike need to educate themselves in the signs associated with prescription drug abuse. Some of the topic one needs to watch for with their teenager behavior is neglecting responsibilities, getting into legal trouble, and even problems with the relationships with one’s friends.\r\nIf ones teenager is scratch to fall on school grades, not do chores at home, or even skipping school a pattern of neglecting responsibilities in beginning to develop. Behavior to watch for in relationships with friends would be losing longtime friends, and sometimes fist fighting with them. One may also be fighting more than usual with one’s siblings or ones political boss at the job. The signs of legal trouble merchantman be anywhere from simple chaotic conduct to any type of study crime. If ones teenager shortly becomes involved with the law, something is wrong (Smith, 2010).\r\nThe most noticeable physical signs of a prescription drug addiction is if ones pupils are bigger or smaller than normal, ones look are bloodshot, grooming habit deteriorate, funny odor on breath or clothing, slurred speech, bad coordination, and tremors (Smith, 2010). Psychological standards one idler detect are (Smith, 2010), â€Å"unexplained change in personality or attitude, sudden mood swings, irritability, or anger outbursts, periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness, lack of pauperism; appears permithargic or â€Å"spaced out”, appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason” (Drug abuse and addiction, para. 9).\r\nWarning signs that tend to show more in teenagers are when one starts beingness secretive about their friends, one has a new interest in one’s clothing styles, and ones teenager is suddenly in need or more privacy then usual. If one has money, valuables, or prescrip tion medication missing, one may need to consider the possibility of one’s teenager developing a prescription drug addiction. Other common signs are depression, withdrawing from the family, using incense to inter the smell, or eye drops to cover the dilated or bloodshot (Smith, 2010).\r\nDrug rehabilitation can be a costly, but necessary, adventure. jibe to ChooseHelp, (2010), â€Å"the professional staff stake at any comprehensive and bore rehab set disallows bargain treatment, and you need to be nimble to spend a significant come in of money to get a quality and effective treatment weapons platform (The hail of Drug Rehab, para. 3). ” Considering all cost involved in housing, feeding, drug therapies, and professional intricacy, prices can range from a few cat valium dollars a month all the way up to $30,000 per month (ChooseHelp, 2010).\r\nSeveral insurance policy companies will absorb most of the pecuniary burden. One needs to contact one’s priva te insurance companionship and receive all details pertaining to this type of treatment. If one contacts one’s local State Drug and alcohol renewal Council, there are schedules available to those that cannot fee 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.\r\nAccording to ChooseHelp (2010), â€Å"family programs can help to heal a family harmed by the destruction and heartache of abuse; and adopt back a healthier energizing to the family as a whole (Families indigence 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 of the essence(p) not just now for the family but for the addict as well.\r\nWhen family instalment are learning about the addiction from trained professionals as well as othe r 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 adjudicateing a prescription drug treatment center for teenager one needs to consider a program involving patient raising as well as family education. The program should offer counseling sessions with a healer or psychologist as well as peer group session involving several families. One needs to choose a facility close to home to chance upon adequate family involvement (ChooseHelp, 2010).\r\nWhen the rehabilitation program is successfully completed it is also important to continue care in an away(p) group such as Alcohol Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Information for these meetings can be obtained in one’s 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. Admitti ng 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.\r\nPay attention to the warning signs, ask questions at the doctor appointments and try not to have addictive medication prescribed to one’s child, curiously if the child has had a problem in the past with any type of addiction. Be careful where prescription medications are fit(p) and consider investing in a lock box. It may be a decision that saves ones teenagers’ life. If one discovers one’s teenager has a prescription drug addiction, or any other addiction, do not be afraid to seek help. Money does not need to be an issue in saving ones life.\r\nReferences\r\nhttp://www.choosehelp.com/drug-rehab/families-need-to-be-a-part-of-the-process\r\nhttp://www.choosehelp.com/drug-rehab/the-costs-of-drug-rehab\r\nhttp://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/12803776/ns/health-addictions/\r\n'