From amoxicillin to Adderall: a child's journey to prescription drug abuse

As a pharmacist, I can't even begin to count the number of prescriptions I filled for amoxicillin.  The majority of them were in the form of the familiar pink suspension that kids get for various infections, mostly for colds and ear infections.  That is where children are introduced to me, the pharmacist, purveyor of pure drugs.  As an attorney, however, I defend clients against charges related to what are called "dangerous drugs."  Both are pure, scientifically designed, sterilely prepared, prescription medications.  Yes, Rx drugs can be both beneficial and dangerous, depending on the use, and context of the situation they are being referenced.  Ever since we heard the phrase "when you have your health, you have everything" Rx drugs have been an integral part of the picture.  The potential for abuse is also as old as the first ingestion of the most common drug of all: alcohol.

Prescription drugs offer the user a false sense of safety lead to impunity of use.  Rarely do people consider any deleterious side effects, let alone fatal complications when the ingest a substance prescribed by a trusted physician and dispensed by a friendly pharmacist.  Unwittingly, these medical professionals are now becoming the new suppliers of substances used to alter peoples minds and moods... really no different than any illicit drug known to man.  Teens and young adults are the latest segment of the population being identified as abusers of Rx drugs.  In a recent article by Reuters, young people have increased their access to controlled drugs by 50% in the last 15 years.  The main Rx drugs being abused are pain relievers in the opiate class (Vicodin- generic name hydrocodone with acetaminophen, Oxycontin - generic name oxycodone, Percocet - generic name oxycodone with acetaminophen).  As a matter of fact, generic Vicodin is the number one prescribed drug in the United States!  Other drugs being prescribed and abused are the stimulants: mainly Adderall; and, the anti-anxiety meds of the benzodiazepine class: xanax - generic name alprazolam, Valium - generic name diazepam, and Konopin - generic name clonazepam.

Just yesterday I was speaking to my good friend and colleague, Dr. Stephen Sroka, an expert on motivating young people to choose safe alternatives to sex, drugs and violence.  Steve was saying that kids aren't using Adderall to get high, but to get higher grades!  I have experienced this personally when I was in college.  My friends and I used any sort of stimulant, from coffee on up, to stay awake and cram for finals.  The Reuters article also cites a survey claiming 36% of college students share their prescription drugs.

The need is plain to see: we must educate health care professionals on drug seeking behavior, substance abuse and addiction.  There will always be plenty of business from legitimate patients to make sure these professionals meet their financial needs, and they don't have to resort to supplying kids, or anyone else, with dangerous drugs.  Just like amoxicillin overuse has lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria, so too has overprescribing of pain killers, stimulants and benzodiazepines.  They need to know the harm they can potentially be causing and that people can fake symptoms very easily.  The other key element is that drug treatment must be available on demand.  Only about 10% of the people seeking treatment in the US can find a bed in a treatment detox, residential facility or outpatient program.  Education and treatment, two things that can't be overused.