HEALTH

‘Powerful and Dangerous Drugs’

Inside one teenager's struggle with prescription pill addiction.

By Karen Springen | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Feb 21, 2008 | Updated: 6:40  p.m. ET Feb 21, 2008

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  • Posted By: nitsnitz @ 05/30/2009 12:49:07 AM

    The <A HREF="http://www.restoreteens.com/Search/0/Residential-Treatment-Center/index.html">teenagers residential treatment</A> program ensures a safe, predictable, organized and supportive environment where residents are taught and encouraged to overcome maladaptive and self-defeating behaviors and are challenged to acquire and practice pro-social behaviors. By taking a complete approach to healing, residential therapeutic treatment has a proven track record of building and reshaping the lives of troubled youth.
    http://www.restoreteens.com/Search/0/Residential-Treatment-Center/index.html

  • Posted By: jbz7879 @ 03/27/2009 11:53:17 AM

    its for the prescibers and parents to figure this out -not the teens

  • Posted By: Progressive American @ 11/25/2008 2:56:22 PM

    Its sounds like most of these kids are bored. The parents need to put these kids in after school programs; one example being sports. A job wouldn't be a bad idea either.

  • Posted By: mckeand @ 11/24/2008 5:30:34 PM

    What kind of a parent would get a sleeping pill prescription for their child?

  • Posted By: Appalachiacilian @ 11/22/2008 10:06:47 PM

    I don't buy the mental illness thing, and I think it's a dangerous assumption that adds to the stigma of addiction. I'm glad that some attention is being paid to this problem, which is much worse in my state than the obesity problem which was highlighted in a poorly written and researched article that also blamed us for OH and KY's problems, even though both states have more money than mine and KY just sunk $15 million into the Jim Beam distillery.
    WV has the highest rate of prescription drug abuse and methadone overdoses in the entire country, and we don't have enough beds to serve even those who want help. Because of the stigmas toward those who are addicted, nurses at many inpatient programs are nasty and disrespectful to the addicts with little or no consequences. And only just now did Charleston decide to put together a prevention program.
    I can't tell you how many pictures there are of my younger sister, now nearly 30, with her eyes looking as the young man's above. In the one inpatient program she was in, the roof of her room was falling in, she broke out in hives from nerves and the meds they put her on only to overhear a nurse stating that she must have herpes and laughing about it (which is even more disturbing that the nurse did not know what hives were when she saw them), and she was misdiagnosed with a mental illness other than addiction. She ran away. Later she was arrested on uttering, but plead down to a misdemeanor. One of the people she was arrested with is now dead after a raid during which he swallowed a bag of heroin, and his mother and brother were arrested for trafficking. This should not be her life and those should not be the people she hangs out with. She was on the honor roll more often than me in high school. Now I'm a teacher, and she flips burgers. I compared the information you can find on prevention and drug abuse in Burlington, VT to Huntington, WV on the internet, and of course, it's very easy to find for Burlington, but not for Huntington. It's virtually impossible to serve a mental hygiene warrant on someone here, especially someone who is legally an adult. As far as I know we don't have any court ordered treatment programs. If you want to print a story about my region and its health, the lack of prevention for drug abuse is the one to look into. It's absolutely disgraceful. So many people here are lost. It's so sad.

  • Posted By: Teenage Problems @ 11/10/2008 2:12:07 AM

    Treatment centers offer unique <A HREF=http://www.teenageproblems.net/>troubled teen detox</A>. Detox is the specialized treatment method for troubled teens that prevents the drug and alcohol addiction problems. It comprises various steps that provide healing to body and mind. It is helpful for those who are unable to give-up chemical substance abuse.
    http://www.teenageproblems.net/

  • Posted By: claymanky @ 05/14/2008 10:20:12 PM

    A recent Harvard medical. study revealed that 70-80% of drug addicts suffer from some type of mental illness prior and doing their drug use. Understanding this is crucial to their treatment and recovery.

  • Posted By: mjkittredge @ 05/10/2008 11:30:07 PM

    Some people are risk takers, others aren't. A risk taker is going to do stupid things no matter how you try to control them.

  • Posted By: Andyli861004 @ 03/23/2008 4:08:33 AM

    I am glad to hear that your family is well . health is important for you. I know a site full of knowledge to teach you to care about your health.

  • Posted By: 1mom @ 02/23/2008 9:04:35 AM

    Where were his parents? I have 4 teens and I know them so well they can't get away with anything. I knwo their nuances, moods and friends - they have great lives but I am involved and they are happy and have come home to tell me about walking away from offers - Parents need to get a clue. Their first priority is their childrend they brought into the world. not climbing the corp later or their own personal lives - that's on hold until you send you happy, successful child off to be a productive responsible adult. Makes me so angry to read stuff like this with clueless parents.....

    • Posted By: catinthehat @ 03/21/2008 10:14:51 AM

      my comment is to 1mom. 1mom, I take offense to your comment that we should all stop trying to climb the corporate ladder. I have been home with my kids (16 and 23) on and off during their lives. I have always made my schedule so that I could be home during the after school hours when kids are more likely to get into trouble. My husband and I have given up a lot and guess what? My daughter became a heroin addict at age 19 which started from wisdom teeth being extracted and given Vicoden for the pain. She is now clean over 2 years and is leading a very productive life. And, my son struggles with substance abuse and is in an intensive outpatient program at his young age. Mom1 you know there is not parent handbook. You do the best you can. I am glad to hear that your family is well but you know everybody has "Stuff" weather it be divorce, substance abuse, money problems. Please try to find some compasion for the parents who may not have the tools; whether it be financial means or something else.

  • Posted By: summer4077 @ 02/22/2008 9:42:46 AM

    I find Evan's comment about marijuana being common and not as stigmatized as "harder" drugs very troubling. Marijuana is still a drug and DOES have very negative consequences beyond "just eating too much junk food". It is illegal for a reason. You can go to jail for possession, spend too much money, alientate friends, lay around in a stupor and lose interest in school and work, cause trouble with your family and friends, health problems, etc etc. Also, a large amount of violent crime and deaths are directly related to marijuana and other drugs. I know that people are trying to legalize it, but that number isn't as high as he makes it out to be. A vast number more are blocking the legalizing movement. His comments show that he is still very immature and has a very long way to recovery. I'm surprised Newsweek didn't edit that out, knowing that there are some young adults and teens who read this publication. Drugs have a devastating effect on the users and society as a whole and shouldn't be taken lightly. Heroin and cocaine may be "harder" drugs, but the persisting prevalence and greater distribution of marijuana and pharmaceuticals make the problems of these drugs much greater.

    • Posted By: Texas Jake @ 02/24/2008 8:26:34 AM

      [POT] - It is illegal for a reason.

      And that reason is simple. Powerful, Big Pharma lobbyists (who are also drug dealers) want people to use their drugs instead. It is a turf war like any innercity druglord gang. Only this battle is being fought in congress. The only bad side effect of pot is jail. Kids raiding the medicine cabinet to get high has been a national directive since the early 1990's.

      • Posted By: lee_lee @ 03/06/2008 12:06:57 AM

        You're joking right?

  • Posted By: phiomalibumalibu @ 02/23/2008 4:42:21 PM

    It is sad, our youth really are going to POT. Sad really, and the fact is many parents are either clueless or in denial. See firstforhealth.com
    for quick guides to signs and symtoms, and quick detox programs.

  • Posted By: meltoncn @ 02/23/2008 4:32:23 PM

    The Superbowl ad was the most harebrained ad I have seen in a while. The drug dealer says he's going out of business because kids are getting the drugs from their parents medicine cabinets instead of through him. How is this bad? Rather than trying to score drugs of unknown purity from a drug dealer on the street the teens are using pharmaceuticals where the purity is monitored and controlled. Sounds to me like a big step forward.

  • Posted By: mfenwick @ 02/23/2008 11:05:04 AM

    The only way to stop the problem of teen drug abuse is to legalize all drugs. That way those who are stupid enough to abuse the drugs hopefully will overdose, die, and then there will be no more drug problem. Those who are smart enough to stay off drugs will live. Folks, people have to suffer the consequences of their actions before they learn anything. Spatting them on the hand, sending them to rehab or a support group all obviously do not work. Let the kids see their dead friends, show them the needle marks, etc.

  • Posted By: SharedThought @ 02/22/2008 12:53:12 PM

    There are already so many governmental efforts to try to prevent teenagers (or anyone else) from acquiring marijuana, herion, meth, and other illegal drugs, as well as efforts to regulate the distribution of prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs (such as the requirements in some states that people must show ID to purchase non-prescription drugs that can be used to make meth). Would NEW laws to attempt to further control drugs really be the best answer, OR, would a better answer be better relationships between teenagers and their parents, and between teens and the community? Shouldn't parents announce at dinnertime each evening, that ALL videogames, TV, iPods, computers will be turned OFF, while the entire family sits down to share the SAME meal TOGETHER, at the same time with family conversation? Also, does our modern economy, in which some parents must work so many hours, or two jobs, make it increasingly difficult to do things like that?

  • Posted By: phiomalibumalibu @ 02/22/2008 5:35:11 AM

    Sad really, and the fact is many parents are either clueless or in denial. See firstforhealth.com
    for quick guides to signs and symtoms, and quick detox programs.

    Good Luck with your teens!

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