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Prescription Drugs

Prescription Drugs. Mrs. Cosens. Xanax. vicodin. oxycontin. Valium. Objectives. Understand the difference between the responsible and irresponsible use of prescription drugs.

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Prescription Drugs

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  1. Prescription Drugs Mrs. Cosens Xanax vicodin oxycontin Valium

  2. Objectives • Understand the difference between the responsible and irresponsible use of prescription drugs. • Distinguish among the three major classes of commonly abused medications: opioid painkillers, central nervous system depressants and stimulant drugs • Describe side effects and dangers of these medications • Explain why using prescription stimulants as “performance enhancers” is misguided and dangerous • Understand how addiction develops in stages and how tolerance, withdrawal and relapse relate to addiction • Discuss the risks of obtaining medications from illegal rogue internet pharmacies • Understand that sharing prescription drugs with others is hazardous as well as illegal • Spot the warning signs of someone else’s prescription and OTC drug abuse

  3. What are prescription drugs? • Any medicine that is available only with a written prescription from a doctor is a prescription drug.

  4. What is prescription drug abuse? • Prescription drug abuse means taking a medication that was prescribed for someone else, or taking a medication for reasons other than the purpose the drug was intended for or intentionally taking a higher dose than recommended.

  5. How dangerous is it? • Far from being a “safe” high, prescription drugs can cause a number of adverse reactions, such as: • Vomiting • rapid heart rate • high blood pressure • depressed breathing • overdose and even death.

  6. In 2010, the CDC reported that fatalities from prescription drug overdoses had become the 2nd leading cause of death in the country-second only to car crashes. According to the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, prescription drug abuse is on the rise. 1if 5 teens reported using a prescription drug without a doctor’s orders. In the past 10 years, prescription drugs have been responsible for a soaring number of accidental deaths.

  7. Show the video entitled, “Prescription Drugs Update” It may be in your best interest to take notes…you will have a quiz at the end of class you can use your notes for.

  8. Opioids-which are most often prescribed to treat pain CNS Depressants- which usually are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders Stimulants- which are prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy and ADHD Three classes of Prescription Drugs…

  9. How do they work? Increase alertness and attention by increasing brain activity, elevating blood pressure and increasing breathing and heart rate. People with ADHD experience increased focus because the medication “wakes” up the brain function that helps to screen out distractions in the environment. Side effects? Hostile or paranoid behavior High body temperature Heart problems and seizures Addiction? Yes Withdrawal symptoms associated with addiction are depression, tiredness and problems sleeping. Polypharmacy warnings? Should not be combined with over-the-counter decongestants, diet drugs, some antidepressants, asthma medication or other prescription stimulants. Prescription Drugs…Stimulants

  10. How do they work? Slow functioning and decrease activity within the CNS, which includes the brain and spinal cord Side effects? May feel and uncoordinated. Can cause dizziness, cofusion and memory problems Addiction? Yes.. .a tolerance develops Withdrawal symptoms associated with addiction: the brain can experience severe “rebound” in terms of activity level, potentially leading to seizures and other serious consequences. Polypharmacy warnings? Should not be combined with any other medication or substances that cause CNS depression, including prescription pain medicines, some OTC cold and allergy medications and alcohol. Prescription Drugs…CNS Depressants

  11. How do they work? Attach to proteins called opioid receptors found in the brain, spinal cord, and digestive tract, in order to block the perception of pain Side effects? Drowsiness Nausea Constipation Depressed breathing Addiction? Yes…physical dependence and addiction Withdrawal symptoms associated with addiction are restlessness, muscle and bone pain, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps and uncontrollable leg movements. Polypharmacy warnings? Should not be combined with substances that depress the CNS, such as alcohol, antihistamines (Benadryl), barbituates (Nembutal), and benzodiazepines (Xanax) Prescription Drugs…Opioid Painkillers

  12. What is Oxycontin? • A painkiller prescribed by doctors to treat cancer patients and those with chronic, long-lasting back pain. • Gram for gram oxycontin is twice as potent as heroin. • One oxycontin is four to thirty time stronger than one Percodan.

  13. Street names/slang terms for Oxycontin • Oxy • Poor Man’s Heroin • Hillbilly Heroin • OC • Oxycotton • Killer

  14. How is Oxycontin used? • Crush the tablet and ingest or snort it • Dilute it in water • Injection • Crushing or diluting the tablet destroys the time-release mechanism and causes a quick, powerful high that users compare to heroin.

  15. What are the effects of Oxycontin? • Suppresses the respiratory system. When combined with alcohol or other depressants, it is often deadly. • Taken in high doses alone can kill you. • Very addictive, difficult to quit abusing. • Abrupt withdrawal from the drug can cause death.

  16. Legal Consequences of Prescription Drug Abuse What is considered illegal? Possessing medications not prescribed to you by a doctor, selling or giving drugs that were prescribed to you to others, buying from an illegal internet pharmacy, storing medication outside of a labeled prescription bottle

  17. Read the Article entitled, “Prescription Drugs, Their Use and Abuse” Answer the provided questions

  18. Celebrities who have had problems with prescription drugs… Paula Abdul DJ AM Robert Downey Jr. Brittany Murphy Eminem Chevy Chase Heath Ledger Michael Jackson

  19. If a friend or family member shows one or more of these signs, he or she might have a problem with prescription drugs: A compulsive need to take the drug Changes in weight, mood or sleeping habits, unusual agitation or irritability Loss of interest in things that used to be important hiding or lying about drug use Missing school or work Going to school or work while high Seek prescriptions from more than one doctor What can you do?

  20. If you suspect an overdose, seek help immediately • Signs of overdose are: • Agitation • Dilated pupils • Seizures • Unconsciousness • Extremely high (or low) body temperature or pulse • Rapid breathing or extremely slow breathing • Sleepiness • Mental confusion • Unconsciousness • Cool, clammy skin or hot, dry skin • Chest pain or shortness of breath • Abdominal pain or nausea • Vomiting or diarrhea

  21. Prescription Drug Quiz

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