Concerned About Teens Taking Prescription Drugs
Ask the Experts
I am a father of three kids and am concerned that the new drug of choice is snorting Oxycodone and the like. Why is this so popular and what are the consequences and
possibilities of long-term or even short-term complications?
- From Netkeeper1113
Oxycodone is a prescribed opiate medication that is very effective
for pain relief. It is one of the more potent medications available. When it is snorted, its effect on the brain and body happen very quickly and much faster than if it were
taken orally. These effects can vary from person to person but generally include feeling high, pain relief (both emotional and physical), and drowsiness. Short-term
complications that can occur as a result of snorting Oxycodone include a greater likelihood of accidents and personal injuries. Long-term complications are numerous and can include
addiction and medical problems such as damage to the nose (nasal passages) and liver. Overdoses with Oxycodone are possible and can result in coma and even death.
Parents often wonder where kids obtain Oxycodone; the answer is that most adolescents who use Oxycodone
obtain it from their parents’ medicine cabinets, purses, or pill bottles. So, for any parent who has been prescribed controlled substances, it is critical that they keep
their medications in a locked and secure place. Some teens have also purchased Oxycodone over the Internet, so parents should be aware of what their teens are doing online and
any Internet purchases that they are making.
Find out where teens are getting prescription drugs.
Timothy Fong, M.D. is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry. He is also the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program and the director of the UCLA Impulse
Control Disorders Clinic.
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