Adolescent & Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
Battling Prescription Drug Addiction: Teen Prescription Drug Rehab
In the 1960s, teens were well-known for using a variety of street drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, LSD and ecstasy, but today, teenagers are more known to use prescription drugs instead. For that, this generation has been labeled “generation Rx”. The reason many teenagers are using prescription drugs over the usual street drugs is because they’re more under the radar and easier to obtain. In some cases, they’re also affordable. Many prescription drugs are even available online. If you have a teen in your home that you suspect is stealing your prescription drugs or getting them from outside the home, you should consider getting teen prescription drug addiction treatment. Now, is your chance to learn about:
- Types of prescription drugs being used by teens
- Side effects of teen prescription drug addiction
- Risk factors for teen prescription drug usage
Types of Prescription Drugs Used by Teenagers
It is a fact that one out of every five teenagers abuse prescription pain medications. About one out of five of those abusing prescription drugs are reported and one out of ten teens that abuse prescription drugs use cough medicine for their addiction. Parents are known to keep prescription drugs lying around in the kitchen, medicine cabinet and bedroom without thinking that their teenager could be at risk of abusing them. Some of the prescription drugs that teens are known to abuse include:
- Painkillers, such as Oxycontin, Percocet, Codeine, Vicodin and Tylenol.
- Depressants/downers that are used for panic attacks, anxiety, tension, severe stress reactions and sleeping problems; such as Klonopin, Soma, Xanax, Valium, Nembutal and Ambien.
- Stimulants/uppers, which are used for ADHD, asthma, obesity, respiratory issues and sleeping problems, like Ritalin, Dexedrine and Concerta.
- Steroids for physical appearance.
Side Effects of Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
The side effects that your teen could witness all depends on the prescription drug they are using. Each one comes with their own set of side effects, and they tend to be greater when the drug is being abused. In some cases, it can cause lethal side effects. Here is a quick list:
- Painkillers: addiction, vomiting, nausea, lack of energy, lack of concentration and apathy
- Depressants/downers: loss of coordination, poor concentration, coma, death, feeling confused, dizziness, slurred speech, respiratory depression and lowered blood pressure
- Stimulants/uppers: anxiety, cardiovascular collapse, convulsions, aggression, suicidal/homicidal tendencies, hostility, vomiting, tremors, excessive sweating and increased heart and respiratory rates
- Steroids: kidney cancer, hair loss, severe acne, liver cysts, liver cancer and jaundice
Risk Factors Associated with Teen Prescription Drug Addiction
There are teens who are at special risk to developing prescription drug abuse habits. Read the below to see if your child fits in any of the categories:
- Family history of alcohol or drug abuse
- Depression
- Feels tired and sluggish often
- Low self-esteem
- Feel unpopular or disliked
- Aggressive and rebellious
It is important that you seek teen prescription drug addiction treatment as soon as you notice any warning signs. Abusing pain medication carries with it a number of risks, and you wouldn’t want any of that to befall your teenager.
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