Spring Break
Prescription Drug Abuse On Rise
Nicholas Carra
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
What is generally meant to help is hurting students across the country in rising numbers. The abuse of prescription pills has increased drastically over the years, as shown in a recent survey conducted by the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs.
The survey took place between September 2005 and February of this year, and found that 15 percent of 11th graders, 9 percent of ninth graders, and 4 percent of seventh graders use prescriptions recreationally, according to the Washington Post. In California, many of these students obtain the pills through "pharming."
This process involves a random selection of pills to be stored in a bowl set out at a party. Teens simply grab at random from the bowl, taking nameless pills with the potential for harm.
Colleges, too, are a breeding ground for prescription abuse.
The stimulant Ritalin, for example, is often used as a study aid for cramming college students.
According to CBS News in 2005, a study showed that 6.9 percent of college students have abused prescription drugs, 25 percent of the students studying at competitive and stressful elite universities. The study was done by Dr. Sean McCabe, interim director of the University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center.
McCabe's research highlights a trend that continues today and can be seen in examining UConn's campus.
One UConn student, who chose to remain anonymous given the illegality of his actions, spoke in an interview about their prior addiction and decreasing use of prescription pills.
"I used to do them a lot more, then I stopped," the student said. "Now I do them very infrequently because I did get a little addicted to them."
The UConn student listed Vicodin and Percocet as initial pills of choice as a sophomore in high school, until trying Oxycontin.
The drugs were acquired easily, through friends who had either been prescribed the pills or knew someone that had been.
"Twenty bucks would get you enough to be really high for a few days," the student said.
The survey took place between September 2005 and February of this year, and found that 15 percent of 11th graders, 9 percent of ninth graders, and 4 percent of seventh graders use prescriptions recreationally, according to the Washington Post. In California, many of these students obtain the pills through "pharming."
This process involves a random selection of pills to be stored in a bowl set out at a party. Teens simply grab at random from the bowl, taking nameless pills with the potential for harm.
Colleges, too, are a breeding ground for prescription abuse.
The stimulant Ritalin, for example, is often used as a study aid for cramming college students.
According to CBS News in 2005, a study showed that 6.9 percent of college students have abused prescription drugs, 25 percent of the students studying at competitive and stressful elite universities. The study was done by Dr. Sean McCabe, interim director of the University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center.
McCabe's research highlights a trend that continues today and can be seen in examining UConn's campus.
One UConn student, who chose to remain anonymous given the illegality of his actions, spoke in an interview about their prior addiction and decreasing use of prescription pills.
"I used to do them a lot more, then I stopped," the student said. "Now I do them very infrequently because I did get a little addicted to them."
The UConn student listed Vicodin and Percocet as initial pills of choice as a sophomore in high school, until trying Oxycontin.
The drugs were acquired easily, through friends who had either been prescribed the pills or knew someone that had been.
"Twenty bucks would get you enough to be really high for a few days," the student said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kris Franson
posted 7/03/08 @ 11:32 AM EST
It is really shoking that children even under 14 are taking such pills thoughtlessly. What happend to our new generation. All the Americans should tthink about that. (Continued…)
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