Teens and Prescription Drug Abuse
I hope you’ll find this video useful. It is about Sonnny Bono’s son and his noticing of an increased use of prescription drugs such as oxycontin and pain pillers in himself and his friends. His mom, Calif. Rep. Mary Bono Mack, discusses the difficulty in detecting this problem compared to illegal street drugs or alcohol.
It is a great public service announcement and she points out that kids can think popping prescription pills are ok because these are prescribed by a doctor. Remember, that many people are prescribed these due to severe injuries and for no other reason. Taking oxycotin or percocet painkillers should only be done under a doctor’s supervision and for medical reasons. It is not just a way to get high. If you are taking them from a parents’ medicine cabinet, not only is that theft but also you are depriving them of their medication which cannot be renewed earlier and refilled. This means that they will run out earlier and may even be forced into having detox reactions in withdrawal.
The same problem occurs within people taking adderall to lose weight or for improving college concentration of studies. It is not wise to take adhd medication if you are not diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder.
The deeper question is why is there a need for the drugs to have peace, enjoyment and a good time. What is the craving for them that lies inside? Is it for a new experience, approval, or to block out something in one’s life? What are the underlying reasons that lead to this? This is something that is different for each person. Each person has a different story, just as for alcohol addiction there are different alcohol accounts. When you read drug addiction stories you can be inspired and moved deeply. You may see the roots of your own problem in someone else’s or it can spark an inquiry for you into the why behind it.
I loved Sonny and Cher! But this kid seems pretty smart to know that he was getting into a pain pill addiction. Wish all kids had brains like him.