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Prescription Drugs

The annual number of new users of pain relievers has been increasing since the mid–1980s, from about 400,000 initially to 2 million in 2000

While most consumers use prescription drugs responsibly, misuse of these medications can lead to addiction and even death. How many times has someone told you a “party” drug could lead to more serious problems like addiction, brain damage, or even death? You’ve probably heard it so many times, it’s getting hard to believe. Especially when those around you are smoking, drinking, and rolling. But all drugs have real potential for harm, even prescription pain relievers. When used alone, or taken with other drugs, prescription pain medications can kill you. And the death toll from misuse and is rising steadily.

Prescription pain relievers, when used correctly and under a doctor’s supervision, are safe and effective. But abuse them, or mix them with illegal drugs or alcohol, and you could wind up in the morgue. Even using prescription pain relievers with other prescription drugs (such as antidepressants) or over-the-counter medications (like cough syrups and antihistamines), can lead to life-threatening respiratory failure. That’s why people just like you are dropping pills at parties, and dropping dead. They're not downing handfuls of pills either. With some prescription pain relievers, all it takes is one pill.

The most dangerous prescription pain relievers are those containing drugs known as opioids, such as morphine and codeine. Some common drugs containing these substances include Darvon®, Demerol®, Dilaudid®, OxyContin®, Tylenol® with Codeine, and Vicodin®. Your friends probably call these drugs by their street names: ac/dc, coties, demmies, dillies, hillbilly heroin, o.c., oxy, oxycotton, percs and vics to name a few. Whatever you call them, remember one thing—they can be killers.

If you or any of your friend, have taken prescription pain relievers, here are the danger signs to watch for:

  • Slow breathing (less than ten breaths a minute is really serious trouble)
  • Small, pinpoint pupils
  • Confusion
  • Being tired, nodding off, or passing out
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Apathy (they don’t care about anything)
  • Cold and clammy skin
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Seizures

If you use prescription pain relievers and are lucky enough to cheat death, you’re still in big trouble. Prescription drugs can be addictive. The longer you take them, the more your body needs. Try to stop, and you could experience withdrawal symptoms. Addiction to prescription drugs is like being hooked on heroin and the withdrawal isn’t much different: bone and muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes and insomnia. If you or someone you know is abusing prescription pain meds, get professional help. Substance abuse ruins lives. Don’t let it happen to your friends—or you.
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