Transcript Prescription Drug Abuse

What is Rx Drug Abuse??
Using a prescription drug without a valid
prescription intended for YOU.
 Giving or selling prescription medication to
a friend or family member is ILLEGAL.
 Prescription drugs are NOT safer than
illegal drugs. When taking pills not
prescribed for you, they are just as
dangerous as illegal drugs like cocaine or
heroin.

Rx Drug Abuse Facts
1 in 4 teens have taken a prescription
medication that wasn’t prescribed for them.
 More teens abuse prescription drugs than
any other drug besides marijuana.
 Every day, approximately 2,500 young
people use a prescription pain reliever for
non-medical use for the first time.
 In 2009, 3.2 million high school students
reported they had abused a prescription
drug at least once in their lives.

What’s the big deal?
Addiction – when we become dependent
upon the drug physically and/or
emotionally. Addiction to prescription
meds can happen quickly.
 Health problems – when we take
medication prescribed for someone
else’s physical problems, we may
actually create physical or emotional
problems for ourselves.

What can happen?
Academic difficulty, failure – if you’re
high, you can’t learn.
 Decline in physical health and
performance
 Conflict with friends and family
 Legal problems: probation, incarceration
 Death

Smart Moves, Smart Choices

Nurse Munsey!