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Misuse of Prescription Pain Relievers:
The Buzz Takes Your Breath Away. Permanently.
If you think you've heard it before, you're dead wrong.
How many times has someone told you a "party" drug could
lead to more serious problems - like addiction, brain damage, or even
death? You've probably heard it so many times, it's getting hard to
believe. Especially when kids around you are smoking, drinking, and
rolling. But all drugs have real potential for harm - even prescription
pain relievers. When abused alone, or taken with other drugs, prescription
pain medications can kill you. And the death toll from misuse and abuse is
rising steadily.
Think twice-because you only die once.
Prescription pain relievers, when used correctly and under a doctor's
supervision, are safe and effective. But abuse them, or mix them with
illegal drugs or alcohol, and you could wind up in the morgue. Even using
prescription pain relievers with other prescription drugs (such as
antidepressants) or over-the-counter medications (like cough syrups and
antihistamines), can lead to life-threatening respiratory failure. That's
why people just like you are dropping pills at parties, and dropping dead.
They're not downing handfuls of pills, either. With some prescription
pain relievers, all it takes is one pill.
Drugs to watch out for.
The most dangerous prescription pain relievers are those containing
drugs known as opioids, such as morphine and codeine. Some common drugs
containing these substances include Darvon, Demerol, Dilaudid, OxyContin,
Tylenol with Codeine, and Vicodin. Your friends probably call these drugs
by their street names: ac/dc, coties, demmies, dillies, hillbilly heroin,
o.c., oxy, oxycotton, percs and vics to name a few. Whatever you call
them, remember one thing - they can be killers.
Symptoms of overdose.
If you, or any of your friends, have taken prescription pain relievers,
here are the danger signs to watch for:
- Slow breathing (less than ten breaths a minute is really serious
trouble)
- Small, pinpoint pupils
- Confusion
- Being tired, nodding off, or passing out
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Apathy (they don't care about anything)
- Cold and clammy skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Seizures
A lot of these symptoms can make people think your friend is drunk. And
you may be tempted to let them sleep it off, or tell their parents they
had too much to drink. But don't. Your friend could go to sleep and never
wake up.
What you can do if a friend is overdosing.
Make an anonymous call to 911 or your friend's parents if you're too
scared to identify yourself. Try to get your friend to respond to you
by calling out his/her name. Make your friend wake up and talk to you.
Shake him/her if you have to. Otherwise, your friend could suffer brain
damage, fall into a coma, or die.
Addiction can be a living death.
If you abuse prescription pain relievers and are lucky enough to cheat
death, you're still in big trouble. Prescription pain relievers can be
addictive. The longer you take them, the more your body needs. Try to
stop, and you could experience withdrawal symptoms.
Addiction to prescription pain relievers is like being hooked on heroin
and the withdrawal isn't much different: bone and muscle pain, diarrhea,
vomiting, cold flashes and insomnia.
If you, or someone you know, is abusing or is addicted, get
professional help. You'll find many resources listed here. You can also
ask for help from parents, doctors, relatives, teachers, or school
guidance counselors. Substance abuse ruins lives. Don't let it happen to
your friends - or you.
If you, or someone you know, is hooked on prescription pain relievers,
call the substance abuse treatment 24-hour helpline:
1.800.662.HELP
Or visit our web site at
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
If you need additional information, here are some places to start:
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II
Rockville, MD 20857
301-443-5052
www.samhsa.gov
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857-0001
1-888-INFO-FDA
www.fda.gov
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213
Bethesda, MD 20892-9561
301-443-1124
www.drugabuse.gov
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
1-800-666-3332
www.freevibe.com
Prescription pain relievers, when used correctly and under a doctor's
supervision, are safe and effective.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Food and Drug Administration
Consumer Education: Misuse of Prescription Pain Relievers
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Consumer
Education
FDA/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Last Updated: August 17, 2005
Originator: OTCOM/DPA
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