According to the White House Drug Enforcement Administration, prescription drug abuse among children between the ages of 18 and 25 grew by 17 percent from 2002 to 2005. In 2004, and again in 2005, more new prescription drug abusers appeared than new users of any illegal drugs.
According to doctors, young people mistakenly believe that prescription drugs are safer than street drugs. But occasional deaths from prescription drugs are increasing, and students who abuse pills are more likely to drive, drink and engage in other dangerous behaviors. Parents should be attentive to these signs and behavioral changes.
The arrest of Albert III can raise parental awareness, said Dr. Donald Misch, director of health services at Northwestern University in Evanston. “This is an opportunity for people to understand that this is happening in your family,” he said. "Drug dealers will have their doctors, their parents and their friends."
Parents should clean their medicine cabinets and lock any prescription drugs. This is more than likely common in homes with a baby, but it is advisable, regardless of the age of the child, just to be safe. It would also be forbidden to give them to friends if your child is not a user.
Scott Burns, Deputy Minister of Medicines, said: “We found in focus groups of young people all over the country that they largely receive medicines from their own medicine offices and the Internet. Other sites steal credit card information and never fill out orders, Burns said.
With the increase in the abuse of prescription drugs, at the beginning of this year, three federal agencies issued recommendations on the disposal of medicines without harming the environment.
1. Remove unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs from their original containers.
2. Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or cat litter, and store them in impermeable, nondescript containers, such as empty cans or sealed bags.
Throw containers in the trash.
4. Do not flush prescription drugs into the toilet without accompanying information about patients, in particular, it is said that it is safe.
5. Return medicines to pharmacy kits that allow consumers to return unused medicines for safe disposal.
Sources: White House National Drug Control Authority, Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency.
Author. Note. A pharmaceutical company sales representative can increase sales by voluntarily offering to return expired or outdated medicines to wholesalers in their territory. This can be a daunting task for their employees. The offer of customer service at this level is rarely expected. It also gives drugs an idea of the inventory at hand and the opportunity to help sell their medicines. A wholesaler may offer special offers to retail pharmacies on your own pharmaceuticals.
