Pop positivity, not pills.

Rx Drug
Abuse
 Pre-Survey

Post-
Survey
Opioids

Depressants
Stimulants
Marijuana

Outline
Myths about Rx Drugs

Myth: Myth: Myth:

Prescription Borrowing a Unlike underage
drugs are safer friend’s stimulant binge drinking
to abuse than medications such and marijuana
other drugs as Adderall or use, misusing
because they Ritalin to do better and sharing
are prescribed in school is okay prescription
by a doctor. medications is
legal
About Rx Drug Abuse

What is prescription (Rx) drug abuse?

• Prescription drug abuse is when someone
takes a medication inappropriately, such as:
• Without a prescription
• In a way other than as prescribed
• For the “high” elicited
 The
Danger
Zone
Every day in The Drug Abuse Reported that more Roughly
the United Warning than 1.2 million ED 488,000 of
States, 2,000 Network visits in 2011 could these ED visits
teenagers monitored be attributed to involved
abuse Rx drugs emergency nonmedical use of prescription
for the department opioid pain
prescription drugs.
first time. visits in selected relievers
This represents
areas across the
Nation through about half of all ED 422,000 visits
2011. visits related to involved CNS
drug misuse. depressants

The Problem
2013 Monitoring the Future Survey
Commonly Abused Rx Drugs
 STOP
for a Video

The truth about drugs

Opioids
What are opioids?

Are chemically Prescription Dependence  Dependence Continued use

similar opioids usually and addiction  means you feel can can lead to
to endorphins come in pill are still withdrawal addiction,
– opioids that form and are potential risks symptoms where you
our body makes given to treat when taking when not continue to use
naturally to severe pain prescription taking the drug despite
relieve pain opioids negative
consequences. 

Happy Pills, Hillbilly Heroin, OC,

Oxy, Percs, or Vikes
How many teens use prescription opioids?
Who should be using Rx opioids?

Cough

OxyContin
Percocet
Vicoden
Dilaudid
Methadone
Conditions they
are used to treat

Kadian
MS Contin
Condeine
Duragesic.
Acute and
Chronic Pain
What is prescription opioid misuse?
Taking an opioid
medication in a way
other than prescribed—
People misuse for instance, taking more You should never:
prescription than your prescribed Mixing them with alcohol or
opioid dose or taking it more certain other drugs
medications by often, or crushing pills
taking them in a into powder to snort or
way that is not inject the drug
intended Taking someone
else’s
prescription, Taking the
even if it is for a opioid
legitimate prescription to
medical purpose get high
like relieving
pain
 What happens to your brain and body when you use prescription
opioids?

• Opioids receptors, on nerve cells in the brain,

spinal cord, gut, and other organs.
• When these drugs attach to their receptors,
they block pain messages sent from the body
through the spinal cord to the brain.
• Opioid receptors are also located in the brain’s
reward center, where they cause a large
release of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
• This causes a strong feeling of relaxation and
euphoria (extreme good feelings).
• Repeated surges of dopamine in the reward
center from drug-taking can lead to addiction.
 What happens to your brain and body when you use prescription
opioids?

In addition to pain relief and euphoria, other

effects of opioids include:

• Decreased heart rate

• Increased confusion
• Decreased breathing
• itching
• nausea (feeling sick to the stomach)
• constipation
What are withdrawal symptoms?

Restlessness
Anxiety
Sweating
Cramping abdominal
pain
Fast heart rate
Excessive yawning
Insomnia
Tremor
Can you overdose or die if you use prescription opioids?

Yes Nearly 23,000 people died

In fact, taking just one
large dose could cause the
body to stop breathing.
Deaths from overdoses of
prescription drugs have
been increasing since the
early 1990s, largely due to
the increase in misuse of
prescription opioid pain
relievers.
from an overdose of a
prescription pain medication
in 2015, with alarming
increases among young
people ages 15 to 24. 
The risk of overdose and
death increase if you
combine opioids with alcohol
or other medications that
also slow breathing, such as
Benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax).

Even one tablet is enough to overdose!

 STOP: How to Recognize Signs of an Overdose

Shaking

Slow Breathing

Cold Damp Skin

Blue Lips and

Fingernails

Vomiting or
Gurgling Sound
 You will be
Call 911 protected by
the Good
STAT Samaritan law!
 STOP
for a Video

Prescription drugs kill one person every 19

minutes
Stimulants
What are stimulants?

Stimulants Stimulants have Dopamine and Stimulants Common

increase—or chemical norepinephrine boost the stimulants
"stimulate"— structures that effects of these include
activities and are similar to chemicals in amphetamines
processes in certain key the brain and (Adderall)
the body brain chemicals body and
methylphenidate
(Ritalin)

Bennies, Black Beauties, Hearts,

Roses, Skippy, Speed, The Smart
Drug, Uppers, and Vitamin R
How many teens use prescription stimulants?
Who should be using Rx stimulants

Depression

Narcolepsy

Conditions they
are used to treat

ADHD
What is prescription stimulant misuse?
You should never:
• Take someone else’s
Some teens are prescription stimulant
prescribed stimulants medication
to manage their • Take a prescription
Some people ADHD. But if they stimulant medication in a
who misuse share their way other than prescribed
them to get medication with • Take the prescription
"high" crush the friends, it is stimulant to get high
tablets and snort considered misuse • Mix them with alcohol and
or inject them This can be
certain other drugs
dangerous,
 ingredients in Stimulants have
the tablets can been misused as
block small an "academic
blood vessels, performance
damaging enhancer“
the heart and
other organs
 What happens to your brain and body when you use prescription
stimulants?

• Stimulant use can have side effects, even when

prescribed by a doctor.
• Taking high doses of a stimulant can cause:
• Physical symptoms: hair loss, skin
problems, chronic itching, profuse
sweating, teeth grinding, extreme fatigue
• Cognitive symptoms: paranoia, impaired
judgment, hallucinations, psychosis
What are withdrawal symptoms?

Withdrawal from stimulants is

characterized by a dysphoric
mood—feeling unhappy—and • Irritability
the presence of two or more of • Hallucinations
the following symptoms • Paranoia
• Jittery reactions • Fatigue
• Anxiety • Depression
• Chills • Impaired memory
• Dehydration • Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Dulled senses • Body aches
• Slowed speech • Drug cravings
• Loss of interest • Unpleasant dreams
• Slowed movements
• Slow heart rate
Can you overdose or die if you use prescription stimulants?

Taking high doses of a Serious outcomes: seizures,

stimulant can lead to:
Short term effects:
malnutrition, ulcers, sexual
dysfunction, kidney failure,
short-term memory loss,
financial problems
heart failure, death
Deaths from an overdose of
prescription drugs have been
on the rise since the early
1990s.
Depressants
What are depressants?

Depressants Prescribed for Barbiturates Benzodiazepine Sleep

slow down (or people who are Medications
“depress”) the anxious or can't
normal activity sleep.
that goes on in Depressants
the brain and can be divided
spinal cord. into three
groups:

A-minus, Barbs, Candy, Downers,

Phennies, Red Birds, Reds,
Sleeping Pills, Tooies, Tranks,
Yellows, Yellow Jackets, Yellows,
and Zombie Pills
How many teens use prescription depressants?
Who should be using Rx depressants?
Xanax, Valium
Acute Stress
Reactions
Panic Attacks

Pentobarbital
Seizure Disorder

Conditions they
are used to treat

Ambien
Sleep Disorders
 You should never:
What is prescription depressant misuse? Take a depressant with other
drugs or to counteract the
effects of other drugs, such
as stimulants
Depressants Depressants should NOT be
Taking a depressant combined with any medicine or
usually come in
medication in a way substance that causes sleepiness
pill or capsule
other than prescribed including:
form. People
by their doctor • Prescription pain medicines
misuse
depressants by • OTC cold and allergy
taking them in a medicines
way that is not • Alcohol
intended Taking someone
else’s Taking a
prescription depressant for
depressant fun
medication
 What happens to your brain and body when you use prescription
depressants?
• Most depressants affect the brain by slowing
down brain activity.
• But as depressants slow down brain activity,
they cause other effects:
• Slurred speech
• Decreased breathing, which can lead to
overdose and even death.
• Increased sleepiness
• Increased disorientation and lack of
coordination
• These effects can lead to serious accidents or
injuries. Misuse of depressants can also lead to
physical dependence.
What are withdrawal symptoms?

Insomnia
Weakness
Nausea
Agitation
High body temperature
Delirium
Hallucinations
Convulsions
Can be life threatening
Can you overdose or die if you use misuse prescription depressants?

Yes, you can die if you misuse

More than 8,700 people died
depressants.
from an overdose of a
The risk for overdose and
benzodiazepine, such as
death are increased when
Valium or Xanax, in 2015.
depressants are combined
with alcohol or other drugs.
Marijuana
What are effects of marijuana use?

Circulatory
Anxiety/
Paranoia
Increased Respiratory
heart rate

Dry mouth

Schizophrenia/
Psychosis
Nausea/vomiting

Dry, red eyes

Bronchitis, Digestive Visual
emphysema,
COPD
↓ in sperm count,
fetal malformations
Reproductive
How does marijuana affect your brain and body?

Harmful effects of marijuana

Short term effects of include:
marijuana include: 5x higher risk of having a
dizziness, shallow breathing, heart attack immediately
red eyes and dilated pupils, after using marijuana,
dry mouth, increased increased bleeding risk,
appetite, slowed reaction lowered blood pressure,
time altered blood sugar level
What should I do if someone I know needs help?

• If you, or a friend, need to speak with someone, please call:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
• They don't just talk about suicide—they cover a lot of
issues and will help put you in touch with someone
close by.
• If you need information on treatment and where you can find it,
you can call:
• Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator at 1-800-662-
HELP or visit www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.