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Iowa
- Teen Alcohol Use and Alcohol Abuse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Press Release)
Feb., 2011 -- The Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy
(ODCP), in alliance with the Partnership for a Drug-Free Iowa,
launched in August 2009 the "Take a Dose of Truth" campaign
to increase parent awareness of the risks associated with the
rising abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC)
drugs by Iowa teens. The campaign project, which includes tools
to help prevent Rx and OTC abuse, was funded by a grant secured
by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin.
"The abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs
is a growing problem in our country, and one that has had devastating
effects in Iowa," said U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin. "It is deeply troubling
that one in five teens nationally reports intentionally abusing
prescription drugs to get high, and one in 10 reports abusing
cough medicine to get high."
Harkin is referencing to the 2005 Partnership Attitude Tracking
Study (PATS) conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
The 2008 Iowa Youth Study found that 7 percent of Iowa 11th-graders
said they had misused prescription drugs in the previous 30
days.
"According to a recent University of Iowa report for the State
Department of Public Health, unintentional poisoning deaths
in Iowa increased 85 percent between 2002 and 2006, due largely
to lethal combinations of medications and illicit drugs or alcohol,"
said Gary Kendell, ODCP director. "We're also seeing evidence
of rising teen prescription drug abuse in Iowa."
At Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, 94 of the 111 drug and alcohol overdoses reported at the children's emergency center between June 15 and Dec. 15, 2008, involved prescription or over-the-counter medications.
And in February 2009, a 14-year-old Des Moines resident died
from an overdose of prescription drugs, according to the Polk
County Medical Examiner's Office. "It's very saddening and disturbing
to learn a young Iowan has died of a prescription drug overdose,"
continued Kendell.
"It's more important now than ever to make parents aware of
the risks and to help reduce access-access to these drugs is
just too easy.
Painkillers, such as Vicodin and OxyContin, are the type of
prescription drug abused most frequently. The PATS study found
that every day 2,500 youth ages 12 to 17 abuse a pain reliever
for the very first time in the U.S. Other drugs commonly abused
include central nervous system depressants such as Xanax or
Valium, and stimulants such as Ritalin and
Adderall, which are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) in children.
The Iowa Poison Control Center reported in 2009 that seven people,
ages 13 to 24, presented symptoms of ADHD medicine abuse at
eastern Iowa hospitals within a four-day period. Iowa Poison
Center calls related to ADHD medicine abuse have doubled in
Iowa during the past five years.
“That is why the Iowa Rx/OTC awareness campaign by the
Office of Drug Control Policy is so important,” said Harkin.
“Our teens and adults must understand that while these
products have great benefits, there are harms and dangers from
misuse and abuse.”
According to the PATS study, about 30 percent of teens (7 million)
in the U.S. believe there is “nothing wrong” with
using Rx medicine without a prescription “once in a while”
and that prescription painkillers are not addictive. And 40
percent of teens reported that they believe Rx medicines are
much safer than illegal drugs.
“One of the most moving elements of the Take a Dose of
Truth campaign is a television public service announcement (PSA)
telling the true story of a Dubuque girl who accidentally overdosed
on prescribed antidepressants and painkillers,” said Kendell.
“FDA-approved drugs, when not used as intended or prescribed,
are every bit as dangerous as illegal drugs. This tragic case
was a matter of taking a double dose of pain medicine with another
pill, and the combination proved deadly.”
The campaign also targets Iowa’s older-adult population
and their caregivers, as those over age 65 are often prescribed
many different medications and are at risk of unintentionally
misusing their drugs.
“When one of the public service messages is seen or
heard, it provides an opportunity for Iowans to strike up
a conversation with family members about medicine abuse and
its dangers,” continued Kendell. It is important that
parents increase their awareness of the problem, learn how
to talk with loved ones about the issue, and see how to properly
secure and dispose of medicines to prevent prescription and
over-the-counter drug abuse and protect the environment.
"The Iowa Governor's Office on Drug Control Policy offers
the following tips for parents on how to talk with their teen
about Rx and OTC medicine abuse and misuse.
Don't worry about having all the facts, but know the
truth. It's more important that you express how you'd
feel if your child used prescription or OTC drugs, or any
other drug, and the impact it could have on your family.
Dispel the myth. Many teens believe prescription
and OTC drugs are less harmful than street drugs because they
are available through a doctor or at the local drug store.
Remind them that these medicines are still drugs and that
they can be just as harmful as illegal drugs if not taken
when needed or as directed.
Talk about the risk. Be specific—tell
them that taking prescription or OTC drugs without a doctor’s
approval and supervision can be a dangerous — even deadly
— decision. Also remind them that taking a prescription
that is not prescribed specifically for them is illegal.
Cover the consequences. If your child is age appropriate,
tell them about the distasteful consequences of abusing prescription
or OTC drugs such as vomiting, unwanted sexual behavior or
blacking out (not remembering what they did).
Set clear rules about drug use. Let your child or
teen know in advance the consequences for violating the established
rules. Make it clear that teens should never take prescription
or OTC drugs with illicit drugs or alcohol.
Set the stage for more discussion. Know that
you will have discussions about prescription and OTC drugs
several times. Talking to your kid about drugs is not a one-time
event.”
TOLL FREE TEEN DRUG REHAB HELP LINE IN IOWA:
1-888-757-6237
or e-mail
us.
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TEEN
DRUG REHAB
TEEN ADDICTION TREATMENT |
Ames,
IA
Ankeny, IA
Atlantic, IA
Audubon, IA
Bettendorf, IA
Boone, IA
Burlington, IA
Carroll, IA
Cedar Falls, IA
Cedar Rapids, IA
Centerville, IA
Chariton, IA
Cherokee, IA
Clarion, IA
Clinton, IA
Corydon, IA
Council Bluffs, IA
Cresco, IA
Davenport, IA
Decorah, IA
Des Moines, IA
Dubuque, IA
Fort Dodge, IA
Guthrie Center, IA
Hull, IA
Humboldt, IA
Independence, IA
Iowa City, IA
Iowa Falls, IA
Jefferson, IA
Keokuk, IA
Keosauqua, IA
Le Mars, IA
Manning, IA
Mapleton, IA
Mason City, IA
Mount Pleasant, IA
Muscatine, IA
Newton, IA
Orient, IA
Oskaloosa, IA
Ottumwa, IA
Pocahontas, IA
Prairie City, IA
Rockwell City, IA
Sac City, IA
Sioux City, IA
Spencer, IA
Spirit Lake, IA
Storm Lake, IA
Wapello, IA
Waterloo, IA
Webster City, IA
West Burlington, IA
West Des Moines, IA
Winterset, IA
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