Information about Prescription Drug Abuse

Written by: Mr. Tim Downs, Student Assistance Coordinator
Reviewed by: Mrs. Bonita Duryea, R.N., School Nurse

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS & A DANGEROUS TREND:

Recent information strongly suggests that some students are increasingly abusing prescription drugs secreted from other family members or acquired from other students through sale or barter. It appears that, among other things, students are rationalizing prescription drug abuse and illicit prescription drug sales by relying on a false presumption that all prescription drugs are safe to use by anyone under any circumstance. This belief is predicated upon two objectively true factual elements regarding prescription drugs: (1) they are produced under laboratory conditions and (2) physicians support their use. According to this line of thinking, since prescription drugs are produced under laboratory conditions, they are free from “street lacing”, (which occurs when potentially dangerous adulterants are added to street drugs to produce a more intense high or to create addiction in the purchaser resulting in a loyal customer base and increased drug sales). Moreover, students rationalize that since a physician gives his endorsement of prescription drugs, that this endorsement is self-evident of general safety for anyone’s use of prescription medication.

Although students’ fears of street lacing are well founded, using those fears as a justification for abusing prescription drugs is clearly erroneous—and altogether misses the point. The real issue is that whenever someone uses, or causes someone else to use prescription drugs not prescribed specifically for them, serious health related problems might arise. Students subscribing to the false premise described in this article fail to recognize that drugs are prescribed to individual patients for specific, legitimate medical concerns under strict medical protocols—and for reasons described in more detail later in this article—are not safe for just anyone’s use. In support of this assertion, school nurse Mrs. Bonita Duryea stated, “The ill effects of prescription drug use by someone not under a medical professional’s care may have serious physiological as well as psychological consequences that may result in addiction and other serious health issues—including death.”

THE PHYSICIAN’S ROLE & PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAFETY:

The key ingredient in safe prescription drug use is the physician’s supervision of the intended recipient of the drugs. When a physician prescribes a drug, many critical health-related factors are considered about the individual patient including, but not limited to, the patient’s: size, potential for allergic reaction and side effects, intensity of the symptoms requiring treatment, other health issues known by the practitioner that may be exacerbated by the prescribed drug, other drugs the patient is currently using, and the medically significant stage of the disease or complication being treated. These protocols not only guide the doctor in prescribing the proper medication, but also are necessary prerequisites for assessing the proper dosage.

Importantly, the physician’s follow-up care is an opportunity for the physician to evaluate the efficacy of the drug while allowing him to check for signs of physiological or psychological addiction that may result from using certain types of prescription medication. Another safety check for patients using prescription drugs unavailable to the illicit user is the pharmacist, who is uniquely positioned to alert the legal prescription drug user to any concerns arising from his professional perspective. Obviously, the student who is illicitly abusing prescription drugs does not have the benefit of the physician’s support; and due to fear of consequences the student is not likely to seek help when needed. This is why parental awareness of this issue is critical.

For all of these reasons, the school’s position is that whenever a student is discovered self-administering, distributing, or in possession of prescription medication in school, it is an inherently dangerous health-related concern that is in need of immediate attention. Therefore, students found in possession of any prescription drugs in school (whether prescribed for them or not) are in violation of the school’s drug and alcohol policy and may also be in violation of New Jersey laws. Students requiring prescription drugs during the school day must have the school nurse administer medications and not have them in their possession for compliance under the policy.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Parents play the most vital role in preventing drug abuse. The following suggestions are designed to assist parents in their efforts, but by no means are they all-inclusive or intended to provide a cure all; however, they may be a reasonable place to start.

• A family culture that tolerates or encourages sharing prescription drugs among family members should be reconsidered. Parents who distribute even seemingly “harmless” medication such as antibiotics from one family member to another are validating the flawed presumption that using prescription medication prescribed for someone else is unequivocally medically safe. Additionally, the dispenser is exposing family members to potentially serious medical consequences.

• If a family member does not use all of his prescribed medication, throw out the unused portion unless a physician says otherwise. Even if your child is not abusing prescription drugs, the street value of certain medications combined with some students’ attitude that prescription drugs are safe for anyone to use, makes their availability very tempting. Most parents would likely agree that leaving out unattended cash day after day in an easily accessible area would be inappropriately contributing to a child’s temptation to steal it. Likewise, parents may want to consider whether leaving prescription drugs in a generally accessible area (such as the bathroom medicine cabinet) for months or years is inappropriately contributing to temptation for some children—or their friends--to use or sell the drugs; especially when some medications fetch twenty dollars or more per pill. Perhaps even more significantly, over time some prescription drugs (such as tetracycline) undergo chemical changes that render them toxic and therefore dangerous to everyone.

• Reconsider allowing a child have his entire prescription in his sole possession. It may be more prudent to distribute pills to a child as needed.

• Keep all prescription medication under lock and key and regularly count pills and measure elixirs (the alcohol content or perceived alcohol content in some elixirs makes them targets for some students).

• Regularly engage your child in open discussions about drug abuse in general and prescription drug abuse specifically. Parents may be surprised how candid children can be in these circumstances.

• Be supportive of the school’s drug and alcohol policy and rehabilitative program.

• Recognize that children are (1) creative and (2) engage in risk-taking behaviors that adults would not even consider. Assume that all prescription drugs might be abused. Simply because a drug falls into a particular class of drugs presenting no apparent ability to produce a mind or mood altering effect does not mean that children will not abuse them. For example, some students grind muscle relaxants into a powder and then snort them, claiming to achieve a “high” from the experience.

CONCLUSION: WHERE TO GET HELP:

If any parent has reason to believe that his child is abusing prescription drugs or any other controlled dangerous substance, the Warren Hills B.O.E. encourages him to call the counseling and addiction centers located at Warren Hospital (908-859-6787) or Hackettstown Hospital (908-850-6810) or the center of his choice and ask about scheduling an evaluation. Parents are also encouraged to immediately contact their private physician with any health-related concerns regarding their child. Parents may contact me at the high school or Mr. David Detrick at the middle school with questions or for more information. Copies of the school district’s drug and alcohol policy are available in the main office of each building.

DISCLAIMER AND RESERVATION OF RIGHTS:

None of the suggestions in this article are intended as a guarantee that a child will refrain from abusing any controlled chemical substance and, therefore, should not be relied upon as such. This article is provided by the school district for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace, or act as a substitute for, the advice of a professional employed in the mental health, behavioral health, or medical health fields. Parental inaction may lead to otherwise avoidable emotional, economic, and health-related costs at the expense of the child and his family.

This informational article should not be construed to provide medical advice nor should any information contained herein be construed as a diagnosis or as a method for making a diagnosis for any medical and/or psychological problem. It is understood that anyone who reads this article and uses any of the information herein agrees to hold harmless the Warren Hills Regional Board of Education its agents and its employees both personally and professionally from any harms arising from and/or associated with its use. Reservation of Rights: All rights to this article and to the information contained herein are expressly reserved.

No portion of this article may be used for any subsequent publication or used in any other way without the express written consent of the Warren Hills Regional Board of Education.