Where do teens get their OxyContin?
Prescription pill abusers out number heroin, cocaine and meth combined.
One of the fastest growing drug addiction problems in the United States revolves around OxyContin - the powerful time-release prescription painkiller that has caused controversy almost since the day it was made available to public. Problems started occurring when individuals started abusing the drug - unaware of just how much more powerful it was than the other widely-used painkiller in the U.S., Vicodin. Individuals across the country were snorting or injecting OxyContin - thus receiving the entire dose contained inside the pill at once. Because OxyContin was designed to release smaller doses of the opiate over time, this led to emergency room visits, deaths by overdose and the nickname “hillbilly heroin” because of the strength and addictive nature of the medication.
Perhaps no group has fallen victim to the OxyContin “craze” more than teenagers. Teen OxyContin addiction is on the rise in the United States and currently shows no signs of slowing down. As we watch our children flirt with OxyContin use in school and at home, one is left with a disturbing question: how, exactly, do teenagers gain access to this dangerous drug?
From the Medicine Cabinet
Once a teenager learns about the euphoric effects associated with OxyContin, their first step is likely to be raiding their parents’ medicine chest. If a family member has been prescribed OxyContin as a means of helping them recovery from injury or illness or surgery, chances are there will be some “leftovers” of the drug still in the house. This becomes easy prey for the teen who is looking to get high.
Solution: Throw away all old, unused medication in the house. And keep potentially dangerous medications that are still being used under lock-and-key. Removing access to the drugs in your own home is one of the keys to prevention.
From Friends at School
One of the biggest challenges facing parents and teen drug rehab professionals is the fact that young people mistakenly view OxyContin and other prescription medications as a safer than illicit street drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Friends often play a dominant role in this regard, and they are ones who tend to spread misinformation about OxyContin and also offer access to the drug via their own connections.
Solution: A child who is well-educated about the potential dangers of prescription drugs is less likely to be swayed by peer pressure. Talk to your kids about OxyContin and other prescription drugs. At a young age, it is important to explain to them that they should NEVER take medication that was not prescribed to them by a doctor.
On the Internet
In the past several years, the internet has become overrun with illicit so-called pharmacies that offer prescription drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin to anyone will a major credit card and a mailing address. Amazingly, these businesses (which are often located outside the United States in a country with little or no government oversight) do not even require a medical examination - and rarely ask for the age of those ordering the drugs. They are responsible for shipping fake or unsafe versions of OxyContin around the world.
Solution: Parents should take the time to talk to their children about the dangers of Internet pharmacies. If teens are using computers in the home, parents should monitor their Internet use and review their browsing history to see if they have visited any illicit sites.
Parents can help turn the tide against OxyContin addiction by talking to their kids (at as early an age as possible) about the dangers of prescription drugs. The longer parents wait to have this conversation, the greater the chance that kids will make their own decisions about these dangerous medications.
Newport Academy offers teen drug rehab for young men and women who have seen their lives turned upside-down by prescription drug addiction. Contact Newport Academy today and help your teen get back on the right track through a program that works with the entire family to achieve addiction recovery and long-term success.
Tags: oxycontin, Teen Drug Rehab, Teen Rehab
Illegal perscription drugs such as oxycontin are easy to access. You can ask someone at school where to get them and they will refer you. Some people will even let you try them for free so you will start to buy the pills from them. This is a terrible drug, it is similar to heroin in may ways and I know people that have overdosed on it. It is extremely bad to get addicted to it, because you become dependent and build a tolerance. This makes it easier for you to overdose because you think you can take an extreme amount.
Not certain how I got here but obviously I was supposed to read this. Thanks.