Prescription Misuse
Prescription Misuse
Prescription drug misuse is the use of a prescription medicine in a way not intended by the prescriber. This includes everything from taking a friend's prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high. Prescription drug abuse may become ongoing and compulsive, despite the negative consequences.
An increasing problem, prescription drug abuse can affect all age groups, including teens. The prescription drugs most often misused include opioid painkillers, anti-anxiety medicines, sedatives and stimulants.
Early identification of prescription drug abuse and early intervention may prevent the problem from turning into an addiction.
MayoClinic.org
Underage Use - What Parents Need to Know
Risk Factors
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Family history of substance use
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Favorable parental attitudes regarding the behavior
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Poor parental monitoring
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Parental substance use
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Family rejection of sexual orientation or gender identity
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Association with delinquent or substance-using peers
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Lack of school connectedness
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Low academic achievement
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Childhood sexual abuse
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Mental health issues
Protective Factors
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Social coping skills
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Commitment to education
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Parental disapproval of prescription drug misuse
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Strong parental bond
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Parental supervision
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Family unity
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Positive social activities
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Positive youth development/afterschool activities
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Norms against substance use
Short-Term Effects of Misuse
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Accidental overdose is possible, even from first time use
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Increased blood pressure
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Increased heart rate
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Decreased blood flow
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Increased wakefulness
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Hyperactivity
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Dangerous increases in body temperature
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Seizures
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Irregular heartbeat
Long-Term Effects of Misuse
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Heart failure/adverse cardiac effects
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Changes in appearance (weight loss/gain)
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Psychosis, with behaviors that are similar to those of schizophrenia
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May lead to other substance use disorders
Fentanyl and Overdose Awareness
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent.
It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. Tolerance occurs when you need a higher and/or more frequent amount of a drug to get the desired effects.
In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq, Duragesic, and Sublimaze.
Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States.
How can fentanyl be misused?
The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids.
Some drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is because it takes very little to produce a high with fentanyl, making it a cheaper option. This is especially risky when people taking drugs don’t realize they might contain fentanyl as a cheap but dangerous additive. They might be taking stronger opioids than their bodies are used to and can be more likely to overdose
How does fentanyl affect the brain?
Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. After taking opioids many times, the brain adapts to the drug, diminishing its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When people become addicted, drug seeking and drug use take over their lives.
Fentanyl's effects include:
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extreme happiness
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drowsiness
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nausea
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confusion
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constipation
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sedation
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problems breathing
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unconsciousness
Can you overdose on fentanyl?
Yes, a person can overdose on fentanyl. An overdose occurs when a drug produces serious adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms. When people overdose on fentanyl, their breathing can slow or stop. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia can lead to a coma and permanent brain damage, and even death.
Narcan
What is Narcan, and why is it important?
Naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan, is a lifesaving medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. By carrying Narcan, you can potentially save a life.
Naloxone will not harm someone if you give it to them and they are not overdosing on an opioid. Naloxone can be given safely to people of all ages, from infants to older adults. This includes an adolescent or young adult who may have unintentionally taken an opioid. During an overdose, a person's breathing can be dangerously slowed or stopped, causing brain damage or death. It's important to recognize the signs and act fast, even before emergency workers arrive.
Naloxone quickly reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. It can restore normal breathing within 2 to 3 minutes in a person whose breath has slowed, or even stopped, as a result of opioid overdose.
How do I get Narcan?
The Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities (ACHC) hosts free monthly Narcan trainings on the 4th Tuesday of each month. This hour long session includes information on the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, and quick actions to take to help save a life and reverse a potential overdose, how to properly use Narcan nasal spray. To view the ACHC program calendar, register for a Narcan training, or to receive a refill of Narcan, click here.
You can also pick up Narcan, fentanyl and xylazine testing strips, and safe medication disposal kits by visiting one of the Save a Life Stations located throughout our community, which you can find by using the interactive map below. These Save A Life Stations are available to access 24/7, and remain stocked at all times.
Prescription Drop-Off Boxes
Prescription Take Back Day
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Twice a year, in April and October, NOCC works with local law enforcement to set up collection sites to help community members safely dispose of old and unwanted medication. Follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on when the next Prescription Take Back Day is!
Every Day is Take Back Day!
Responsibly disposing of medications is one of the easiest ways to keep our community safe. Expired or unused medications can be safely disposed of at these Lake Orion and Oxford locations at any time
during normal business hours. Zoom in/out and scroll around the map for more locations.
Best Practices
To properly dispose of medications in a prescription drop off bin, please remove any pills from their bottles/blister packs and seal within a plastic sandwich bag. If medication came from a prescription bottle, please scratch out/cross out any identifying information on the bottle, such as patient names, doctors names, and prescription information.
While each drop-off box might have different restrictions on what types of medications can be deposited inside of them, most drop-off boxes will accept prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, veterinary medications, and prescription patches. Most DO NOT accept inhalers, needles, or liquids, though liquid-gel capsules are allowed. If you are unsure of what medications the bin does or does not take, check the bin for info, or ask an employee nearby.