O.T.C. / Prescription Drugs
O.T.C / Prescription Drugs
Street names: skittles, Trail Mix, Pharm Party, poly drug, chill pills, French fries, trangs, big boys, cotton
Prescription Drug Abuse by teens/young adults is a serious problem in the United States.
The misconception of Prescription drugs is that they are safer than illicit drugs, when abused, they can be as addictive and dangerous as illegal drugs. Prescription drugs should only be taken exactly as directed by a medical professional.
Prescription drugs account for the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs.
Pharming (pronounced "farming") from the word pharmaceutical. It means kids getting high by raiding their parents' medicine cabinets for prescription drugs. Pharm parties where teens bring prescription drugs from home, mix them together into a big bowl (trail mix), and grab a handful. Not surprisingly, pharm parties are usually arranged while parents are out. Pilz (pronounced pills) A popular term used to describe prescription medications.
- 1 in 5 teens has abused a prescription (Rx) pain medication
- 1 in 5 report abusing prescription stimulants.
- 1 in 10 has abused cough medication
Recipe /Perfect Cocktail Prescription drugs mixed with alcoholic or other beverages.
Trail mix: A mixture of various prescription drugs, usually served in a big bag or bowl at pharm parties.
“ POLY DRUG” Taking several drugs Throughout the day to produce different reactions Uppers-Downers.
What do they look like?
They can be broken down into 4 types
- Pain relievers
- Stimulants
- Sedatives
- Tranquilizers
Signs your child is abusing:
- Excessive energy
- Excessive drowsiness
- Inability to concentrate
- Lowered inhibitions
- Increased secrecy
- Dramatic and compelling but vague complaints
Constricted or dilated pupils
- Flushed face and neck
- Slowed breathing
- Lowered blood pressure
- Sensory alteration
Prescription Drug STATS
Every day, 2,500 teenagers use a prescription drug to get high for the first time.
- 12 to 17 year olds abuse prescription drugs more than they abuse ecstasy, crack/cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine combined
- 60% of teens who have abused prescription painkillers did so before age 15
- There are as many new abusers age 12 to 17 of prescription drugs as there are of marijuana
Two key factors in driving prescription drug abuse among teenagers:
- The misperception that abusing medication is not harmful
- The ease of access to these drugs at home, a friend's house, or the Internet
Please click here or on the image to the left to download the O.T.C. / Prescription Drugs brochure.
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