Getting High on Prescription Drugs
You probably heard about Heath Ledger’s death last month “as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Diazepam, Temazepam, Alprazolam, and Doxylamine,” a combination of painkillers, anxiety medication and sleeping aids. The medical examiner stated Heath Ledger abused these drugs which means he used them to feel intoxicated or high rather than for therapeutic reasons.
This is becoming a new trend with young people. We’ve beat in the “Just Say No” message so overall drug use is down, but more kids are now seeking other ways to get high. According to ABC news the Office of National Drug Control Policy claims that each day 2,500 kids age 12-17 try prescription pain killers for the first time in hopes of getting high. Teens think it’s safer to get high off prescription drugs because they are prescribed by doctors rather than some drug dealer.
Teens can get prescription drugs several ways. They can raid the medicine cabinet at home, get them from their friends, steal them from their grandparents or even order them online without a prescription. Some teens get their fix at “pharm parties.” At these parties teens bring whatever pills they can find and drop them in a bowl which they then pass around like trail mix. In that case they don’t know what they are taking or even what medicines they are mixing together in their systems.
Another trend is abusing over-the-counter drugs like cough syrup and cold medicine. Some teens participate in “Robostripping” where they spin a bottle of Robitussin cough syrup on the end of a string to separate the drugs to the top of the bottle. This gets a kid high and hallucinating. Others are using Sudafed to make meth. In my state you are required to show ID and go in to an electronic log when you purchase OTC drugs like Sudafed, but not all states monitor these purchases.
So what can we do to prevent our kids from abusing prescription and OTC drugs? Plenty.
- Set a good example. Carefully follow instructions on your medications.
- Talk to your teens about being responsible with medicines. Tell them it’s not safe to take drugs that are not prescribed to them. The anit-drug also has some great tips for talking to your teen about drugs.
- Be mindful of your dosage. Watch for any missing pills.
- Set limits and rules about websites visited and check website histories. There are many websites that tell a kid exactly what pills to use to get high. Not to mention the websites that sell prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription.
- Watch to see if your kids go to the grocery store often before going out with friends.
- If you think your teens are abusing drugs, lock your drugs in a safe cabinet and hide the key.
- Check your teens room for empty medicine bottles.
- If your teen takes prescription medicine, such as Adderall for ADHD, check their dosage and make sure they aren’t out of meds before they are supposed to be.
- Be weary of empty packages in their room that may be prescription drugs sent via postal mail.
What signs should you look for to tell if your teen is high?
- constricted pupils
- mood swings
- personality changes
- clumsiness
- drowsiness
- secretiveness
- withdrawal from friends and family
- trouble in school
- anxiety
- flushed skin
- excessive energy
- lack of sleep
- irritability
- loss of appetite
Even if your teen is a good kid and you think he/she would never do drugs, you still need to keep your eyes open. Even straight ‘A’ students and athletes are using. One mom found out the hard way when her smart and athletic son, Ryan, died of a drug overdose. It’s such a tragic story. It just proves it can happen in any family.
Strange as it might seem, childish minds often don’t understand adult perspectives, and so young people can be surprised that parents are upset when a child dies (sometimes of a drug overdose). It helps to remind youngsters how important they are to us, and how all that parents do is to protect them and to insure a healthy future. It also helps to remind kids that the most important thing that they can do for their parents is to stay safe.
I think what is truly the most important thing that parents can do is simply talk to their kids about drugs – I know, I know, It’s been beaten into our heads already – but the astonishing thing is – only about half of all parents are talking to kids about the dangers of drugs, and far less than half of all parents are talking with their kids about the dangers of prescription drugs.
It may seem as though our kids aren’t listening, but studies have shown that parents talking to kids about drugs is far far more effective in keeping kids safe than relying on other sources, like school drug education programs – or other media.
The important thing when talking to your kids though, is to be honest. If you try to scaremonger, and you get caught in a lie – or an exaggeration, you lose all credibility.
Very informative and comprehensive post – should be required reading for all parents of teens and nearly teens!
I have NEVER heard of a ‘Pharm Party.’ I have never thought prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs. But you say I have, or am capable of doing these things. How condescending. You say yourself, kids are looking for ways to get high. Thats because WE ENJOY GETTING HIGH. Why don’t you accept that instead of putting it ‘off limits?’ That MIGHT JUST be why so many kids do drugs. Being stoned is awesome, but it’s even cooler that we’re defying our parents. But apparently thats not relevant. Maybe if marijuana was legal, it wouldnt be criminals who get in touch with your kids.