Prescription pills are praised for working wonders against anxiety, pain and sleeping disorders. They are considered, in moderation, to be safe. But abusing these drugs is not at all uncommon, which quickly turns safe into tragic. In 2006, 16 million patients abused their prescription medications, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. Further, painkillers are more likely to cause fatal overdoses than heroin or cocaine, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
When it comes to social acceptability, the line between illicit drugs and prescription pills is clearly cut, but I don't snort it. Prescription drugs are more lethal, just as addictive and easier to find than the stuff the D.A.R.E. dog warned you about.
A friend stopped smoking pot after receiving a citation from university police. The next week he obtained a legitimate prescription for the painkiller Hydrocodone. He still has a drug problem, but this time it's easier to hide. It would be difficult for Searle to monitor if a student is abusing his medication, or for NUPD to catch someone selling it to close friends.
That's the rule of the trade: anyone with a prescription can be a dealer. You can lie to your doctor, buy it from your friend or steal it from your parents. If marijuana is the gateway drug, a prescription is an all-access drug pass.
2008 Woodie Awards
The DAILY encourages you to share your thoughts on this story. Please help us keep the discussion lively, but civil. Comments that are abusive to others, off-topic or vulgar, or comments that misrepresent someone's identity, will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to delete any comments in violation or to close comment threads on articles.
Please e-mail online@dailynorthwestern.com to flag a comment or for more information.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
mary
posted 4/11/08 @ 10:32 AM CST
Very good article. And very important information, I hope people read and take it seriously. I can tell you from experience, that hydrocodone is not only overprescribed, highly addictive, but also sneakily lethal. (Continued…)
Josie Smith
posted 5/26/08 @ 3:59 PM CST
Maintenance medications for opiate addiction and nicotine addiction have resulted in significant improvements in success rates.
Family therapy is an effective treatment for adolescent drug abuse. (Continued…)
diana
posted 6/18/08 @ 6:27 AM CST
well i would say this article would give you something valuable for your life if you take it seriously.
my sister was taking hydrocodone from long time and now her bones are bending but she is so addicted she cant stop it. (Continued…)
Vicodin Addiction
posted 9/23/08 @ 8:41 AM CST
This is the sad truth of our days, I am disappointed and I am not willing to accept it. Doctors should know better, this is a high responsibility and they should be aware of that. (Continued…)
katiesmily
posted 11/03/08 @ 7:25 AM CST
It's not a shock that there are students out there who like to experiment with various states of mind.
=============================
Katie
Drug Rehab
Post a Comment