If 90 percent of drug addictions start in teenage years as stated by drugfree.org, then it is our adult responsibility to stop this problem where it begins, and teach our children the possible future affects of this drug abuse.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
"90% of prescription drug addictions start in teenage years" (drugfree.org)
If 90 percent of drug addictions start in teenage years as stated by drugfree.org, then it is our adult responsibility to stop this problem where it begins, and teach our children the possible future affects of this drug abuse.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
This Needs To Be Considered By All Of Us!!!
We have all learned that social media is a wonderful to "get the word
out" about anything of interest. What I have learned is that the
things that interest the average person are truly not that interesting
or important. If I were to post a picture of my dinner last night or of
something cute that my cat has done, I will get tremendous response
from others. If I post something and plead with people to stand up and
take notice of something important though, nobody seems to care!
My point is that this issue of Prescription Drug Abuse is affecting all of us even though some of us can not see it yet. Here is an article that depicts the problems that we are trying to create awareness about http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/teen-s-opioid-addiction-descent-into-hell-for-ottawa-mom-1.2251945
This was an article I posted yesterday with absolutely no response. I understand that people have enough problems and don't feel the need to add more to their stressful days, and I truly understand that. As parents and responsible people we need to stand up and say something about problems such as these. Prescription Drug Abuse is not only a growing problem, it is in your local schools whether you want to believe it or not.
I would like to turn a blind eye as well and hope that it is not in the schools of my children but reality tells me that it is there. I want to believe that my children, who have wonderful values and morals, will not be tempted by a "cheap high" just as you do. We were all children once and understand what peer pressure can do to a child and reality tells us that all our children will be "tested or tempted" at one time or another.
This is a very real problem and I know that we would all like to ensure the safety of our children and families. We all need to take responsibility for this problem and do something about it!
Our group wants to attack this problem directly at its major source. A large amount of us have prescriptions in our homes that may never be used again, or at least need to be under lock and key. We are pleading with everyone to store their prescriptions properly so their is no possibility of them being used other than their intended purpose. We are also pleading with all of you to return or destroy old and unneeded medications so that there is no possibility of them getting into the wrong hands. If we remove the source, we remove the problem.
Our group will be handing out brochures and prescription drug return bags during the week beginning November 11, 2013 in front of our local pharmacies. It is our goal to hand out 500 bags and brochures across Northern Ontario. It is not a large number but it is certainly a start. We urge you to go to your local health unit and get some bags as well, so you can join us and help to stomp out this issue across Canada.
One person can make a difference, but larger groups of people can make an even bigger difference. Let's ensure the safety and security of our children by removing the source of this problem together. Share this information on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or wherever you feel you can get the word out. If we can inform thousands of people, who can in turn inform thousands more, we the people can solve this problem and make this a better and safer place for all of us to live.
My point is that this issue of Prescription Drug Abuse is affecting all of us even though some of us can not see it yet. Here is an article that depicts the problems that we are trying to create awareness about http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/teen-s-opioid-addiction-descent-into-hell-for-ottawa-mom-1.2251945
This was an article I posted yesterday with absolutely no response. I understand that people have enough problems and don't feel the need to add more to their stressful days, and I truly understand that. As parents and responsible people we need to stand up and say something about problems such as these. Prescription Drug Abuse is not only a growing problem, it is in your local schools whether you want to believe it or not.
I would like to turn a blind eye as well and hope that it is not in the schools of my children but reality tells me that it is there. I want to believe that my children, who have wonderful values and morals, will not be tempted by a "cheap high" just as you do. We were all children once and understand what peer pressure can do to a child and reality tells us that all our children will be "tested or tempted" at one time or another.
This is a very real problem and I know that we would all like to ensure the safety of our children and families. We all need to take responsibility for this problem and do something about it!
Our group wants to attack this problem directly at its major source. A large amount of us have prescriptions in our homes that may never be used again, or at least need to be under lock and key. We are pleading with everyone to store their prescriptions properly so their is no possibility of them being used other than their intended purpose. We are also pleading with all of you to return or destroy old and unneeded medications so that there is no possibility of them getting into the wrong hands. If we remove the source, we remove the problem.
Our group will be handing out brochures and prescription drug return bags during the week beginning November 11, 2013 in front of our local pharmacies. It is our goal to hand out 500 bags and brochures across Northern Ontario. It is not a large number but it is certainly a start. We urge you to go to your local health unit and get some bags as well, so you can join us and help to stomp out this issue across Canada.
One person can make a difference, but larger groups of people can make an even bigger difference. Let's ensure the safety and security of our children by removing the source of this problem together. Share this information on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or wherever you feel you can get the word out. If we can inform thousands of people, who can in turn inform thousands more, we the people can solve this problem and make this a better and safer place for all of us to live.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Facts and Stats here in Canada
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/teen-s-opioid-addiction-descent-into-hell-for-ottawa-mom-1.2251945
1 of 5 teenagers admitted to
taking prescription drugs to get high and 75% of those teenagers admitted to
stealing them from their own home – CAMH – Ontario Student Drug Use
and Health Survey (OSDUHS 2009)
Painkillers are the most commonly
used prescription drug abused by teens (OSDUHS 2009)
" Canada is the second
largest consumer of prescription opioids, according to the International
Narcotics Control Board (2010). Globally, North America consumes approximately
80% of the world's
opioids”. http://www.ccsa.ca/Eng/Priorities/Prescription-Drug-Misuse/Pages/default.aspx
"Commonly abused prescription medication
includes: opioid pain relievers (such as fentanyl, Percodan®, Demerol® and
OxyNEO®); stimulants (such as Ritalin®, Concerta®, Adderall® and Dexedrine®);
and tranquillizers and sedatives (such as benzodiazepine, Valium®,
Ativan® and Xanax®)." http://www.ccsa.ca/Eng/Priorities/Prescription-Drug-Misuse/Pages/default.aspx
Prescription drugs: Stimulants should only be used in combination
with other medications under a physician’s careful supervision (OSDUHS 2009)
Over-the-counter drugs: There are dangers associated with mixing
stimulants and over the counter drugs that contain decongestants. Blood
pressure can become dangerously high or lead to irregular heart rhythms.(OSDUHS 2009)
47,000 Canadian deaths are linked
to substance abuse annually.
—
Health Officer's Council of British Columbia
Substance abuse has cost our
health care system $8 billion.
—
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
Testimonials:
“I began to get hallucinations of
birds flying overhead, feelings of people in the same room as me when I was
alone, and the beginnings of paranoia. I used up [my friend’s] entire Dexedrine
prescription within a week. Then I went back to my Ritalin and went on from
there....
“I don’t remember much of twelfth
grade. The vast majority was spent in an incoherent, paranoid sleep-stupor. But
I do remember overwhelming depression and an inability to understand what
exactly was the reason I was doing worse than ever in school....I barely
graduated, and made absolutely no college plans.
“At the last minute I enrolled in
the local college. I was able to stay clean for about seventeen days before the
need for speed overcame all. As soon as I started using it again, I stopped
going to class. I was too depressed to care. I attended class for one week, and
failed miserably.” —Sam
Discussion:
We have chosen this topic because
it is a growing problem, and believe that this is an issue that affects many
families in Northern Ontario. The western world uses approximately 60 percent of the world's pharmaceuticals, the problem is here in North America. We must begin the change here at home.
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