Prescription & Synthetic Drugs

Nearly one in four teens reported misusing a prescription drug during their lifetime. Every day, 2,500 kids between 12-17 years of age misuse a prescription painkiller for the first time. One of every five BHS students admits to taking a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them, with reasons ranging from self-medication and weight loss to study aids and recreational use. The influx of illegally made drugs, especially those laced with fentanyl, have made this kind of substance use especially dangerous.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy declared this kind of prescription drug use an epidemic, with especially dire consequences for the developing brains of America’s youth. It's important that parents stay on top of the latest information and resources.
What prescription drugs do teenagers commonly abuse?

Xanax is a powerful, short-acting benzodiazepine that is commonly prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders. A troubling new trend in Brookline is teens sneaking anti-anxiety meds like Xanax and taking them with alcohol, a particularly dangerous mix. 

Adderall and Ritalin are stimulants commonly prescribed to children, teens and adults for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Approximately 1 in 10 of all teens aged 13 to 17 have been prescribed stimulant medication like Adderall or Ritalin. That’s a lot of medication floating around, and for those who need it, these drugs can be extremely effective. But, according to a 2012 survey by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, in conjunction with the MetLife Foundation, one in eight teens (13%) now report that they have taken Adderall or Ritalin when it was not prescribed for them. (And most said they got the medication from a friend or relative.) At BHS, 8% of all seniors admitted to abusing stimulants not prescribed to them (2015). Reasons ranged from self-medication and weight loss to study aids and recreational use – the sustained “high” from stimulants allows students to party longer.

Opioids include common pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine, but the class of drugs also includes the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and many others. Deaths from prescription opioids increased 300% in less than a decade, and Brookline is not immune. And teens are getting these drugs from friends and family – most often filched from their own home medicine cabinet. In addition, illegally made opioids and other substances have become increasingly available.​

You can find a comprehensive list of drugs and their signs of use on Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
How do I talk to my child about drug use?
Parents make a huge difference in their children’s perceptions of drug use. Teens are more likely to use drugs if they believe that their parents are more lenient toward prescription drug misuse or abuse. To learn more, from facts to tips for talking to teens, go to DrugFree.org.
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And keep in mind that the language you use about substance use disorders can be very powerful. If you know or suspect your child is using prescription drugs, marijuana or alcohol, The Partnership for a Drug Free America offers parents an online e intervention book What to do if your child is drinking or using drugs. ​
NARCAN
Naloxone (brand name NARCAN) is an opioid antidote (antagonist) which reverses an opioid overdose in much the same manner as an EpiPen (epinephrine auto-injector) reverses an allergic reaction. Naloxone acts as a bridge between the call to 911 and when help arrives. Naloxone is a KEY strategy recommended by CDC, State and Federal organizations to address the health crisis. Check out this “Layperson’s Guide to Narcan.”
Where do teenagers obtain prescription drugs?
Parents – keep an eye on your medicine cabinets. Make an important part of your spring cleaning a purging of your medicine cabinet of old and unused pharmaceuticals. Mixed with coffee grounds or kitty litter (anything unpalatable), drugs can be thrown out in the trash in Brookline – they don’t enter the water supply.

Additional Reading & Resources

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Guides and Downloadable Resources