Prescription Stimulant Misuse Needs More Publicity
by Cassandra Holloway
Prescription opiate misuse and abuse such as oxycontin or hydrocodone is all over the media. Governor Peter Shumlin even called a statewide Opiate Addiction Forum to address the issue this year. What is not being highlighted in the media is prescription stimulant misuse and abuse- especially among teenagers and college students. Granted the consequences and dangers are not as obvious but they are just as significant.
In the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey which is completed nationally in middle and high schools every two years, 1 in 20 Windham County high school students reported recent misuse of a prescription stimulant not prescribed to them. Unlike other prescription drugs, prescription stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall are very accessible among teenagers because it is prescribed to many of their peers.
According to the VT Department of Healthy, in 2012 only 5-7% Opiates, sedatives, and barbiturates prescribed in Windham County were prescribed to males and females 18 and under; however 41% of the male and 20% of the females prescribed stimulants in Windham County were 18 and under.
The lack of perception of risk could also be a contributing factor to this misuse. A study completed by The Partnership at Drugfree.org showed that a quarter of students and almost one-third of parents believed ADHD medication can improve a child’s academic or testing performance, even if the teen does not have ADHD. There is no evidence of this to be true.
A specialized report was recently created by the Vermont Department of Health by its Brattleboro District Office which used data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to show past 30 day substance use crossed with different risk behaviors. The report could not conclude a connection of substance use (specifically alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs) and risky behaviors but it did determine that they were highly associated. It is also important to note that the report did not distinguish if students used only one or several drugs.
With that disclaimer, the report showed that among all students reporting substance use within 30 days, the students who misused prescription stimulants were highest in percentages of risky behavior. These risky behaviors included harming oneself, attempting suicide, bullying or fighting another person in the past year or having sex while under the influence in the past 3 months. Prescription opiate misuse was a close second and excessive marijuana use (20 times or more a month) was third in all these risky behaviors.
When compared to students who reported recent binge-drinking, more than twice as many student who reported recent misusing prescription stimulants had harmed themselves (46%) or attempted suicide (37%). According to an research article “Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders” which was put out by SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association); the greatest risk of stimulant withdrawal “is of doing harm to self or others. Because withdrawal-related dysphoria and depression can be particularly severe in stimulant users, risk of suicide is intensified, and sensitive management is essential.”
Also compared to students who reported recent binge-drinking, students who reported recent misusing prescription stimulants were twice as high in having sex while under the influence (62%) in the past 90 days and 50% higher in fighting (63%) or bullying someone (37%) in the past year.
That said, the report also revealed that a majority of the students who reported recent misuse of prescription stimulants were among the numbers of the students reporting binge-drinking and risky behavior. Nearly 9 out of 10 of the students who reported recent misuse of prescription stimulants also reported recent binge drinking.
The Office of Alcohol and Drug Education at the University of Notre Dame explains the risks of mixing alcohol and prescription stimulants "The stimulant effect can cause students to prolong use resulting in consuming unhealthy amounts of alcohol which has led to cases of alcohol poisoning. Stimulants in the system can block the depressant effect shutting off the warning signs to a person's body that they may be drinking too much."
It is critical that the media begins to give equal attention to the risks of prescription stimulant misuse as it does to prescription opiates. Youth need to be made aware by medical providers, families, peers, and schools of the consequences and dangers of prescription stimulant misuse. The increased risky behaviors among teens misusing prescription stimulant in combination with easy access/ availability and lack of perception of harm could be a deadly combination.
For more information and a copy of the report, visit brattleboroareapreventioncoalition.org or windhamrx.org.
Cassandra Holloway is the Coalition Coordinator for Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition (BAPC), a local nonprofit that organizes community efforts to be involved in the ongoing prevention and reduction of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse in the Windham Southeast area. Visit www.BrattleboroAreaPreventionCoalition.org or call 802.257.2175 to learn more about their prevention efforts and to get involved.
In the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey which is completed nationally in middle and high schools every two years, 1 in 20 Windham County high school students reported recent misuse of a prescription stimulant not prescribed to them. Unlike other prescription drugs, prescription stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall are very accessible among teenagers because it is prescribed to many of their peers.
According to the VT Department of Healthy, in 2012 only 5-7% Opiates, sedatives, and barbiturates prescribed in Windham County were prescribed to males and females 18 and under; however 41% of the male and 20% of the females prescribed stimulants in Windham County were 18 and under.
The lack of perception of risk could also be a contributing factor to this misuse. A study completed by The Partnership at Drugfree.org showed that a quarter of students and almost one-third of parents believed ADHD medication can improve a child’s academic or testing performance, even if the teen does not have ADHD. There is no evidence of this to be true.
A specialized report was recently created by the Vermont Department of Health by its Brattleboro District Office which used data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to show past 30 day substance use crossed with different risk behaviors. The report could not conclude a connection of substance use (specifically alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs) and risky behaviors but it did determine that they were highly associated. It is also important to note that the report did not distinguish if students used only one or several drugs.
With that disclaimer, the report showed that among all students reporting substance use within 30 days, the students who misused prescription stimulants were highest in percentages of risky behavior. These risky behaviors included harming oneself, attempting suicide, bullying or fighting another person in the past year or having sex while under the influence in the past 3 months. Prescription opiate misuse was a close second and excessive marijuana use (20 times or more a month) was third in all these risky behaviors.
When compared to students who reported recent binge-drinking, more than twice as many student who reported recent misusing prescription stimulants had harmed themselves (46%) or attempted suicide (37%). According to an research article “Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders” which was put out by SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association); the greatest risk of stimulant withdrawal “is of doing harm to self or others. Because withdrawal-related dysphoria and depression can be particularly severe in stimulant users, risk of suicide is intensified, and sensitive management is essential.”
Also compared to students who reported recent binge-drinking, students who reported recent misusing prescription stimulants were twice as high in having sex while under the influence (62%) in the past 90 days and 50% higher in fighting (63%) or bullying someone (37%) in the past year.
That said, the report also revealed that a majority of the students who reported recent misuse of prescription stimulants were among the numbers of the students reporting binge-drinking and risky behavior. Nearly 9 out of 10 of the students who reported recent misuse of prescription stimulants also reported recent binge drinking.
The Office of Alcohol and Drug Education at the University of Notre Dame explains the risks of mixing alcohol and prescription stimulants "The stimulant effect can cause students to prolong use resulting in consuming unhealthy amounts of alcohol which has led to cases of alcohol poisoning. Stimulants in the system can block the depressant effect shutting off the warning signs to a person's body that they may be drinking too much."
It is critical that the media begins to give equal attention to the risks of prescription stimulant misuse as it does to prescription opiates. Youth need to be made aware by medical providers, families, peers, and schools of the consequences and dangers of prescription stimulant misuse. The increased risky behaviors among teens misusing prescription stimulant in combination with easy access/ availability and lack of perception of harm could be a deadly combination.
For more information and a copy of the report, visit brattleboroareapreventioncoalition.org or windhamrx.org.
Cassandra Holloway is the Coalition Coordinator for Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition (BAPC), a local nonprofit that organizes community efforts to be involved in the ongoing prevention and reduction of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse in the Windham Southeast area. Visit www.BrattleboroAreaPreventionCoalition.org or call 802.257.2175 to learn more about their prevention efforts and to get involved.
