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Prescription Drugs
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Prescription Drug Misuse in Young Adult Subcultures
October 30th, 2012 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Negative health consequences have been associated with prescription drug misuse and increased rates of prescription drug misuse have contributed heavily to the treatment burden in the US. A quarter of a million people per year entered drug treatment programs between 2004 and 2006 for dependence on a prescription medication. In 2009, 2.6 million Americans misused a prescription drug for the first time, an average of more than 7,000 new misusers per day. Rates of prescription drug misuse are often highest among 18–25 year olds. About 6.3% of American 18–25 year olds report misusing a...
October 30th, 2012 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Negative health consequences have been associated with prescription drug misuse and increased rates of prescription drug misuse have contributed heavily to the treatment burden in the US. A quarter of a million people per year entered drug treatment programs between 2004 and 2006 for dependence on a prescription medication. In 2009, 2.6 million Americans misused a prescription drug for the first time, an average of more than 7,000 new misusers per day. Rates of prescription drug misuse are often highest among 18–25 year olds. About 6.3% of American 18–25 year olds report misusing a...
Promising Medications for Opioid Addiction
September 26th, 2012 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Use of illicit opioids is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. From 1999 to 2009, annual treatment admissions for opioids increased from 280,000 to 421,000. Extensive research shows that three available medications used to treat opioid addictions have shown superior treatment outcomes compared to non-medication-based therapies. This article reviewed the three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for long-term treatment of opioid dependence: the opioid-agonist methadone (an agonist is a chemical that binds to and triggers a response by a cell),...
September 26th, 2012 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Use of illicit opioids is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. From 1999 to 2009, annual treatment admissions for opioids increased from 280,000 to 421,000. Extensive research shows that three available medications used to treat opioid addictions have shown superior treatment outcomes compared to non-medication-based therapies. This article reviewed the three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for long-term treatment of opioid dependence: the opioid-agonist methadone (an agonist is a chemical that binds to and triggers a response by a cell),...
Long-lasting Naltrexone Helps Severe Alcoholics
December 7th, 2011 / Prescription Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Naltrexone is a medication that reportedly reduces the craving for alcohol, one of the symptoms of alcohol dependence (alcoholism). However, past research has suggested that naltrexone’s benefits may be limited to less-severe alcohol dependence and only reduce heavy drinking rather than support abstinence. The current study examined the effectiveness of once a month, injectable, extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) in patients with higher severity alcohol dependence. This method of administering the medication also addresses the problem of adherence - the degree to which a patient...
December 7th, 2011 / Prescription Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Naltrexone is a medication that reportedly reduces the craving for alcohol, one of the symptoms of alcohol dependence (alcoholism). However, past research has suggested that naltrexone’s benefits may be limited to less-severe alcohol dependence and only reduce heavy drinking rather than support abstinence. The current study examined the effectiveness of once a month, injectable, extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) in patients with higher severity alcohol dependence. This method of administering the medication also addresses the problem of adherence - the degree to which a patient...
Baby Boomers Bring Drug Use Challenges
March 31st, 2011 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
The number of 50+ year-old Americans with a substance use disorder is expected to reach 5.7 million by 2020. A recent report by Duke University Medical Center researchers reviews epidemiological findings focused on illicit drug use disorders and nonmedical use of prescription drugs by older adults. Alcohol abuse and dependence are excluded in order to isolate the “hidden” emerging problem of drug use in the over-50 population. The review states that the number of adults age 50 to 59 is growing, as large numbers of baby boomers reach 50 years or older. Surveys show that this “baby...
March 31st, 2011 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
The number of 50+ year-old Americans with a substance use disorder is expected to reach 5.7 million by 2020. A recent report by Duke University Medical Center researchers reviews epidemiological findings focused on illicit drug use disorders and nonmedical use of prescription drugs by older adults. Alcohol abuse and dependence are excluded in order to isolate the “hidden” emerging problem of drug use in the over-50 population. The review states that the number of adults age 50 to 59 is growing, as large numbers of baby boomers reach 50 years or older. Surveys show that this “baby...
Gender Effects on Drug Disorders
December 2nd, 2010 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
A recent study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) examined gender differences in rates of substance abuse and dependence among young people. Earlier research has shown that males appear to be at greater risk than females for substance use problems. (In 2008 males comprised 60% of the 20 million youthful illicit drug users, and more than 2/3 of those in drug abuse treatment.) However, these studies provided only limited insight into gender differences in drug use or drug consequences. The objective of this NIDA study was to determine whether rates of substance use disorders...
December 2nd, 2010 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
A recent study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) examined gender differences in rates of substance abuse and dependence among young people. Earlier research has shown that males appear to be at greater risk than females for substance use problems. (In 2008 males comprised 60% of the 20 million youthful illicit drug users, and more than 2/3 of those in drug abuse treatment.) However, these studies provided only limited insight into gender differences in drug use or drug consequences. The objective of this NIDA study was to determine whether rates of substance use disorders...
Non-Medical Use of Prescription Opioids Is Common
August 31st, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
The non-medical use of prescription opioids – taking someone else’s prescription medication or taking it for the wrong reasons – is increasing in the United States. Inappropriate use of prescription medications has been associated with medical and psychiatric symptoms. Not only does this misuse have fundamental health risks associated with it but these “legal” drugs have the potential of becoming a substance-use disorder (SUD) leading to job problems, arrest, even the risk of death. This Yale University School of Medicine study was designed to examine the demographic and clinical...
August 31st, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
The non-medical use of prescription opioids – taking someone else’s prescription medication or taking it for the wrong reasons – is increasing in the United States. Inappropriate use of prescription medications has been associated with medical and psychiatric symptoms. Not only does this misuse have fundamental health risks associated with it but these “legal” drugs have the potential of becoming a substance-use disorder (SUD) leading to job problems, arrest, even the risk of death. This Yale University School of Medicine study was designed to examine the demographic and clinical...
Does Price Decrease Cause an Increase in Abuse?
April 30th, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Prior research has shown that as the cost of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs decrease, their abuse increases… and vice versa. This study wanted to see if the same principle applies to prescribed medications: specifically, if the introduction of generic products in the U.S. increased the therapeutic use and illicit abuse of oxycodone products, generally prescribed as pain medication, and the fentanyl patch, used for chronic pain management. Researchers began with abuse data that they already possessed and then purchased corresponding prescription data by ZIP code: from 2003 to 2006...
April 30th, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Prior research has shown that as the cost of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs decrease, their abuse increases… and vice versa. This study wanted to see if the same principle applies to prescribed medications: specifically, if the introduction of generic products in the U.S. increased the therapeutic use and illicit abuse of oxycodone products, generally prescribed as pain medication, and the fentanyl patch, used for chronic pain management. Researchers began with abuse data that they already possessed and then purchased corresponding prescription data by ZIP code: from 2003 to 2006...
The Media Has This One Wrong
April 30th, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
OxyContin is a sustained-release oxycodone preparation that can provide safe and effective relief from chronic pain for 12 hours. During the latter part of the 1990s, the practice of crushing OxyContin tablets – thereby “jumpstarting” the release of the contained opioid – and then inhaling or dissolving and injecting the powder became popular for its pronounced “high.” Several scientific studies found that the role of OxyContin is minimal in the use and abuse of pharmaceutical opioids. A very different characterization of the increase in pharmaceutical opioid use is found in...
April 30th, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
OxyContin is a sustained-release oxycodone preparation that can provide safe and effective relief from chronic pain for 12 hours. During the latter part of the 1990s, the practice of crushing OxyContin tablets – thereby “jumpstarting” the release of the contained opioid – and then inhaling or dissolving and injecting the powder became popular for its pronounced “high.” Several scientific studies found that the role of OxyContin is minimal in the use and abuse of pharmaceutical opioids. A very different characterization of the increase in pharmaceutical opioid use is found in...
Revisiting Surprising Statistics about Extra-Medical Drug Use
January 31st, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
More than 10 years ago, the 1990-1992 National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) looked at the use of “extra-medical” drugs: alcohol, tobacco, psychoactive prescription drugs used outside of the prescribed purpose, and illegal drugs. This study revisits that issue, analyzing more recent data from the 2001-2003 NCS-Replication (NCS-R). The face-to-face household survey collected responses from 5,692 English-speaking respondents who were 18 years of age or older (3,310 men, 2,382 women), using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Despite a decade-plus...
January 31st, 2008 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
More than 10 years ago, the 1990-1992 National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) looked at the use of “extra-medical” drugs: alcohol, tobacco, psychoactive prescription drugs used outside of the prescribed purpose, and illegal drugs. This study revisits that issue, analyzing more recent data from the 2001-2003 NCS-Replication (NCS-R). The face-to-face household survey collected responses from 5,692 English-speaking respondents who were 18 years of age or older (3,310 men, 2,382 women), using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Despite a decade-plus...
easyaccessdrugs.com
October 31st, 2006 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Three national drug-use monitoring studies have cited significant increases in prescription opioid use over the past 5 years, particularly among young people. The causes for this increase are unknown; however, the leadership of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy have both expressed concern that online pharmacies selling medications without prescriptions may be playing a role. Very little is known about these “no-prescription websites” (NPWs), their characteristics, or the degree to which they contribute to drug abuse....
October 31st, 2006 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Three national drug-use monitoring studies have cited significant increases in prescription opioid use over the past 5 years, particularly among young people. The causes for this increase are unknown; however, the leadership of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy have both expressed concern that online pharmacies selling medications without prescriptions may be playing a role. Very little is known about these “no-prescription websites” (NPWs), their characteristics, or the degree to which they contribute to drug abuse....
A Mixed Review of Antidepressants
August 31st, 2005 / Prescription Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Antidepressants are commonly used with substance abusers to treat co-occurring depression. In addition, these medications positively affect some of the underlying mechanisms of addiction, particularly for alcohol, cocaine and nicotine dependence. This review systematically analyzed the scientific literature to examine the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs in individuals with alcohol and other drug-abuse disorders (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine and opioids) who may or may not have co-occurring depression. The authors examined all studies listed on the PubMed database from 1966 to May...
August 31st, 2005 / Prescription Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
Antidepressants are commonly used with substance abusers to treat co-occurring depression. In addition, these medications positively affect some of the underlying mechanisms of addiction, particularly for alcohol, cocaine and nicotine dependence. This review systematically analyzed the scientific literature to examine the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs in individuals with alcohol and other drug-abuse disorders (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine and opioids) who may or may not have co-occurring depression. The authors examined all studies listed on the PubMed database from 1966 to May...
College Student Pill Use Second Only to Pot
April 30th, 2005 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
According to previous research, the illicit use of prescription pain medication has increased significantly among college students during the past decade, reaching a historic high point in 2002. This University of Michigan study assesses the characteristics of undergraduate college students who illicitly use prescription pain medication. Researchers secured a random sample of 19,378 full-time undergraduate students from the Registrar’s Office at a large Midwestern university in the United States, e-mailing each of them an invitation to self-administer the Student Life Survey via the...
April 30th, 2005 / Abused Drugs / Betty Ford Institute
According to previous research, the illicit use of prescription pain medication has increased significantly among college students during the past decade, reaching a historic high point in 2002. This University of Michigan study assesses the characteristics of undergraduate college students who illicitly use prescription pain medication. Researchers secured a random sample of 19,378 full-time undergraduate students from the Registrar’s Office at a large Midwestern university in the United States, e-mailing each of them an invitation to self-administer the Student Life Survey via the...
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