Myth or Fact? Prescription Drugs are Safer than Street Drugs
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, nearly one in three teens believe using prescription drugs is safer than purchasing ‘street’ drugs, or medications similarly labeled, but not from licensed pharmaceutical sources.
Is taking prescription drugs prescribed for someone else safer than using ‘street’ drugs? Both choices carry high risks.
It may seem that since a licensed physician has prescribed a particular medication for someone we know that it would be safe for everyone, but it’s not. A licensed healthcare provider manages and monitors each individual patient’s medical treatment, medication dosage, and usage. Taking medication that has been prescribed for someone else, or misusing prescription drugs is very risky.
When prescribed by a doctor, certain prescription medications including Adderall® Ritalin®, and others, can help manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. However, more than one in six teens and young adults in Maine alone are choosing to take these and similar stimulants not prescribed to them (MYIHS 2019). And most report obtaining the medications through a friend or family member. While their reasons may vary, from using these medications as a study aid to helping to alleviate boredom, this practice can pose very serious health risks.
Teens who believe prescription stimulants are safer than street drugs are more likely to misuse them. Teens may not understand the risks of misusing or sharing prescription stimulants which include:
Irregular heartbeat, increased anxiety, and/or sleep disturbances/disorders
Emotional harm and/or other mental health issues
Use of other substances including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and street drugs
Increased risky behavior
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Dependency or Addiction
Overdose and/or Death
What about prescription drugs obtained elsewhere? Also, extremely risky. Increasingly, many ‘street drugs,’ including medications available both over-the-counter and by prescription only, purchased online from unlicensed pharmacies and other mail order sources, are being laced with or contaminated with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent.
Even in small amounts, fentanyl can cause respiratory distress, and can cause death when taken in higher doses or when combined with other substances, especially alcohol or other illicit drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Counterfeit medications, which may or may not contain fentanyl, overwhelmingly appear virtually identical to the real product - greatly increasing the risk of opioid overdose and/or death.
Stress. Anxiety. Anger. Frustration. Boredom. Peer Pressure. Bullying. Unrealistic expectations from parents, teachers, friends. War. The cost of higher education. Climate change. Global health pandemic(s). The weight of the world. The growing pressures of every day life can trigger misuse of substances, including prescription medications. Misusing prescription stimulants can be as dangerous as the use of illegal drugs.
Do you know what, and how much, your teen is keeping bottled up inside? Check in with your teen often. Talk with your teen about the very serious risks of taking any medication that hasn’t been prescribed to them. Listen to what they have to say. Work together to identify and employ healthy ways to relieve stress, anxiety, and bottled-up emotions; and seek help when needed.
Make sure your teen knows that when prescribed by a doctor for a specific health condition, prescription medications can be safe and effective. If your teen is being treated for a health condition with prescription stimulants, it is very important that you and their doctor direct them to never share their medications with others.
For more information, visit www.samhsa.gov.