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Prescription Misuse

Prescription Misuse
Something about prescription misuse, this page will be different 

Underage Use -  What Parents Need to Know

Risk Factors

  • Family history of substance use

  • Favorable parental attitudes regarding the behavior

  • Poor parental monitoring

  • Parental substance use

  • Family rejection of sexual orientation or gender identity

  • Association with delinquent or substance-using peers

  • Lack of school connectedness

  • Low academic achievement

  • Childhood sexual abuse

  • Mental health issues

Protective Factors

  • Social coping skills

  • Commitment to education

  • Parental disapproval of prescription drug misuse

  • Strong parental bond

  • Parental supervision

  • Family unity

  • Positive social activities

  • Positive youth development/afterschool activities

  • Norms against substance use

Short-Term Effects of Misuse

  • Accidental overdose is possible, even from first time use

  • Increased blood pressure

  • Increased heart rate

  • Decreased blood flow

  • Increased wakefulness

  • Hyperactivity

  • Dangerous increases in body temperature

  • Seizures

  • Irregular heartbeat

Long-Term Effects of Misuse

  • Heart failure/adverse cardiac effects

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Changes in appearance (weight loss/gain)

  • Psychosis, with behaviors that are similar to those of schizophrenia

  • May lead to other substance use disorders

Overdose and Fentanyl Awareness

The importance of Narcan

     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.

Prescription Drop-Off Boxes

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.

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Federal, State, and/or County funding has been provided through the
Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority-Substance Use
Disorder Services to support the project costs.

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