'Pharm' parties are feeding teenage prescription drug abuse

July 2, 8:08 AMHealth Care ExaminerSheila Guilloton

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A mix a prescription drugs will turn deadly

The statistics are frightening.  Seven of the top ten drugs being abused by teenagers today are legal prescriptions or over-the-counter medications.  The intentional abuse of prescription drugs has been identified by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy as the second most abused substance by teenagers. Marijuana still ranks first but it is quickly followed by painkillers, tranquilizers,  stimulants and sedatives.

The shocking reminder of what a self-administered mix of prescription drugs can lead to is the recent  untimely death of Michael Jackson.   Perhaps even more shocking is where and how teenagers are getting access to prescription drugs.

Many parents have never heard the term "pharm" party.  Short for pharmaceutical party, these gatherings bring together teens who have raided the medicine cabinets of family and friends.  The host provides a large bowl.  All the pills are tossed into the bowl and each teen grabs a handful of pills to swallow.  To add to the danger, the pills are often taken using some alcoholic beverage to wash them down. Alcohol and one drug can be a lethal combination.  Alcohol and an unstable mix of  various drugs is a more potent killer.

Why do teens find that activity engaging?  Experts have identified many reasons. Simple curiosity is one. Fitting in with the group is another. Some teenagers have said it makes them feel good or more grown-up.  Unfortunately,  teens are far more likely to become addicted quickly and have a harder time trying to get sober than older abusers.

The most commonly abused prescription drugs are the opioids. Usually used as painkillers these drugs include morphine, codeine, OxyContin and Vicodin.  This class of drugs also includes Demerol a drug which may have figured in several celebrity deaths, including Michael Jackson.  After opioids, stimulants and tranquilizers are most abused.  Even Ritalin, a drug used mostly for children to control Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is being taken in larger than prescribed doses to get a buzz.  As long ago as 1996, the DEA reported that  there has been a 1,000%  increase in drug abuse injury reports involving methylphenidate (Ritalin)  for children in the 10 to 14 age group. It now equals or exceeds injury  reports for the same age group involving cocaine.

The DEA study went on to conclude there is also strong evidence that Ritalin and other drugs prescribed for ADD and ADHD have been greatly over-prescribed in some parts of the country.  These drugs are being used as a panacea for behavior problems. Over-promoted, over-marketed and over-sold, profits from Ritalin reached  $450 million annually. Not only does the over medication of many children constitutes a potential health risk it has also created a new source of drug abuse and illicit traffic.

Fortunately many parents are waking up to the threat that prescription drugs pose to their children. An annual study  conducted  by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and Met Life, showed that in 2007  the number of parents mistakenly believing that abusing prescription medicines is "much safer" than using illicit street drugs dropped by nearly half—from 19% in 2007 to just 10% in 2008.

For more info: Visit The Partnership for a Drug Free America website