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Drugs such as OxyContin, Ritalin, and Vicodin have become so common among today's youth that more than 15 percent of high school seniors say they've taken at least one prescription or OTC pill for nonmedical purposes within the past 12 months. And in 2005, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that more than two million teens had abused prescription drugs that year alone.
The adolescents and teenagers who use prescription or OTC medication for other than approved purposes do so for a wide range of reasons - some take the drugs recreationally to get high, while others cite sleep problems, concentration lapses, and pain as precursors to their illicit use of these substances. Regardless of what initially motivated them to take the drugs, though, youth who use prescription and OTC medications without a doctor's supervision expose themselves to considerable risks - not the least of which are arrest, addiction, and death.
some popular otc and prescription drugs:
Cough Medicine: Many cough medicines contain an ingredient called dextromethorphan (DXM). While this ingredient is safe and effective for treating coughs when used as directed, it can produce a "high," as well as dangerous side effects, when used in large amounts. Some of the adverse effects of DXM include confusion, dizziness, distorted vision, slurred speech, trouble with coordination, drowsiness, rapid heart beat, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, and loss of motor control.
Diet Pills: Teens may begin using diet pills as well as laxatives and diuretics (pills to rid the body of excess water) in order to lose weight. But even the most natural diet pill can be dangerous. While the FDA has banned several ingredients commonly found in diet pills due to concerns about safety (phenylpropanolamine and ephedrine), this does not mean that other ingredients contained in diet pills are safe. One particular ingredient called bitter orange contains a substance made from the fruit of the citrus aurantium plant, which acts much like ephedrine in the body. It can cause nervousness and tremor, increased heartbeat, high blood pressure, and even heart failure. Many other diet pill ingredients cause digestive problems, kidney problems, and dehydration.
Pain Relievers: Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen are both safe and effective when used properly. But teens may abuse these medications because they believe them to be safe, even when used in greater amounts than directed on the label. They mistakenly believe if two Tylenol don't help, two more might work. Yet acetaminophen toxicity is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure, a condition that is more likely if acetaminophen is used at the same time alcoholic drinks are ingested. And ibuprofen in excess can cause stomach bleeding and even kidney failure.
Motion Sickness Pills: Motion sickness pills such as Dramamine taken in large doses (an entire package or more) can cause hallucinations.
Sexual Performance Pills: OTC sexual performance pills are sometimes used by teens that are drinking in an effort to counteract the effects of alcohol on sexual performance. These medications can cause heart problems, especially in combination with alcohol.
 Based Gods Number 1 Fan · Wed Nov 11, 2009 @ 10:24pm · 0 Comments |
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Inhalants are a diverse group of volatile substances whose chemical vapors can be inhaled to produce psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. While other abused substances can be inhaled, the term “inhalants” is used to describe substances that are rarely, if ever, taken by any other route of administration. A variety of products common in the home and workplace contain substances that can be inhaled to get high; however, people do not typically think of these products (e.g., spray paints, glues, and cleaning fluids) as drugs because they were never intended to induce intoxicating effects. Yet young children and adolescents can easily obtain these extremely toxic substances and are among those most likely to abuse them. In fact, more 8th-graders have tried inhalants than any other illicit drug.
Based Gods Number 1 Fan · Wed Nov 11, 2009 @ 10:20pm · 0 Comments |
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