A new study finds that overdoses from benzodiazepines-sedatives (common brands include Xanax, Valium and Ativan) are on the rise, but more troubling, these overdoses are sometimes fatal. The study appears in the American Journal of Public Health. What does this mean for teens in Arizona, where prescription drug use is an epidemic with 1 in 5 Arizona high school seniors abusing Rx medication?
While the prescription drug epidemic has gained a lot of attention, this particular epidemic involving prescription sedatives hasn’t received the attention it deserves, according to study author Dr. Joanna Starrels, an associate professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
The reason we need to pay special attention to sedative drug use is that it slows breathing and brain activity, especially when combined with alcohol or narcotics. When a user stops taking them, there can be a rebound effect, possibly leading to seizures and other harmful consequences including death.
As we strive to tackle the prescription drug epidemic, it’s important to understand why kids abuse these drugs.
Some reasons include:
· Sanitized – teens view prescription medication as sanitary since it’s created in a medical laboratory for healing purposes
· Sanctioned – teens view the drugs as acceptable since doctors prescribe the drugs for specific reasons
· Safe – teens view the drugs as safe since many of the prescription drugs are certified by the FDA.
Tips to help parents safeguard their teens from prescription medications:
· Having conversations with kids about how these substances are dangerous
· Take any unused, expired or unwanted prescription drugs to a safe medical drop-off box
· Lock up cabinets that contain prescription drugs
· Store prescription drugs where kids don’t have access to it
Kids can begin to hear messages about making healthy choices as early as preschool. This is especially important since the average age of first-time drug use in Arizona is 13 years old. There is no time better than now to have a conversation with your kid about substance abuse. To help guide this conversation, learn about the various resources we offer. From prevention to treatment, we can guide you every step of the way in keeping your kid drug free or getting your kid back on the path to being drug free.
