Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Prescription Drug Addiction 'Could Happen to Anyone'
A family shares their story of the effects of addiction, and Detective Sgt. Sean McKenna offers advice on what to do when it comes to prescription drug abuse.
By Bryan Littel
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Connie and Andy Tighe were like many other parents a decade ago, unaware of the escalating problem of prescription drug abuse.
That all changed when their son, Kevin, started showing the telltale signs of painkiller addiction, which led to what Connie Tighe described as “a rollercoaster of treatment and relapse,” eventually ending in Kevin’s untimely death a little more than two years ago at the age of 29.
And when their nephew also died after becoming addicted to prescription drugs, the Tighes said it was time to speak.
“I wasn’t aware of prescription pill abuse,” Connie Tighe said during a presentation at West Deptford High School Tuesday night. “It really wasn’t on our radar screen.”
As photos of Kevin—from his youth soccer team, or hanging out with family, or as a stony-faced football player in his No. 55 jersey—played out behind her, Connie Tighe unfolded her son’s story of addiction, which eventually escalated to him to the deadly combination of OxyContin and Xanax.
The painkiller abuse likely started after Kevin, a 1999 West Deptford High School graduate, battled through multiple knee and hand injuries as a teenager, Connie Tighe said, when he was prescribed powerful drugs like Percocet or Vicodin after surgeries.
Those prescriptions created a scenario where addiction became more likely, Connie Tighe said, and it would take time before they could see anything was wrong—in fact, not until Kevin’s college grades slipped and he shifted between Rutgers-Camden and Rowan did it really become apparent.
“He was good at hiding his pill abuse from us,” Connie Tighe said.
Outpatient rehab didn’t work—Kevin was too good at manipulating the system, Connie Tighe said—and a shot at inpatient rehab fell apart, leading to frustration and heartbreak.
“The entire family becomes victim to addiction,” she said.
And though the Tighes—a tight-knit family, involved in their children’s lives, with a strong support network—might not seem a likely family to be hit with drug abuse, West Deptford Detective Sgt. Sean McKenna said there’s no blueprint when it comes to prescription drug abuse.
“This doesn’t just happen to people with broken families,” McKenna said. “This could happen to anyone.”
Prescription drugs are particularly insidious, McKenna said, given their easy availability. While a teenager might have to hop in a car and drive 15 minutes to Camden to score street drugs, prescription painkillers could be sitting in a medicine cabinet a few rooms away.
“They don’t even have to get on the highway,” he said.
Worse, McKenna said, is the relative ease in getting prescribed something like oxycodone with just a simple doctor’s visit. Doctors wrote out 200 million pain medication prescriptions in 2010, according to the National Institutes of Health, and McKenna quoted statistics that indicated about 70 percent of doctor’s visits result in some kind of prescription.
“You’re going to walk out with some painkillers,” he said. “It’s becoming a problem.”
It’s gotten to the point where teens are experimenting with painkillers or other medications instead of traditional gateway drugs, like marijuana, McKenna said.
“Prescription drugs are right there now,” he said.
While painkiller abuse is common, McKenna said, other prescription drugs—Valium, Klonopin, Xanax—also end up being used recreationally, and around 40 percent of teens think abusing prescription drugs is safer than street drugs.
“This is the silent killer in our society,” he said.
And given the high price of those painkillers on the street, where OxyContin sells for $20 or $40 per pill, what starts out as a prescription drug addiction could turn into a heroin habit in a hurry, McKenna said.
Parents need to be aware of the signs of prescription drug abuse—changes in behavior or friend groups, loss of interest in activities, major grade slips—and act early to try to head off problems before they get out of conrol, McKenna said.
Since prescription drugs are frequently in a medicine cabinet with easy access, steps need to be taken when it comes to medication—McKenna suggested parental oversight when it comes to using any powerful prescription drugs, and the Tighes said it could be worth considering locking up any potentially addictive drugs.
When it comes to intervention, West Deptford High School principal Brian Gismondi and student assistance counselor April Sanford said parents consistently use the school as a resource for addressing concerns about potential drug abuse, usually going through administrators or guidance counselors.
“We move forward with them from there—offer them support, reach out, if they want,” Sanford said. “It’s been really impressive.”
The high school offers a range of services, from individual and group counseling for students and families, to drug and alcohol intervention programs to crisis intervention.
And the random drug testing program at the high school can detect prescription drug abuse, Gismondi said. Students who test positive at any one of those tests have to go through substance abuse counseling and have a clean test after that, under current guidelines at the high school.Related Topics: Kevin Tighe, West Deptford police, and prescription drug abuse
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Commentary: Teen Alcohol Use — Parents Have More Influence Than They Think
By Jan Withers | April 20, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol,Parenting, Young Adults & Youth
Underage drinking is in part a youth problem, but it’s also an adult issue. Over half of all high school age drinkers get their alcohol from an adult, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Plus, half of those adults providing alcohol are parents or other family members.
Although adults can be part of the underage drinking problem, they can also be part of the solution. About three-quarters of teens say parents are the biggest influence on their decision on whether or not to drink.
Most parents want to do the right thing, but don’t know how. Part of that can be knowledge – one out of every five teens binge drink, but only one out of every 100 parents think their teen binge drinks. Sometimes parents take an authoritarian style of parenting that causes them to lose their ability to influence their teen through reason. While others take a hands-off approach, or allow their teen to drink under their supervision, which makes it even more likely that their teen will drink more when away from their parents.
Fortunately, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has teamed up with Dr. Robert Turrisi of Pennsylvania State University to create thePower of Parents handbook. Based on Dr. Turrisi’s research, this handbook gives proven tips on how to talk with your teens about alcohol in a productive, positive way. Parents who read the handbook and have the intentional conversation with their teens about alcohol can reduce underage drinking behaviors by as much as 30 percent. We encourage you to start the conversation this Saturday, April 21st, PowerTalk 21 day — the national day for parents to start talking with their kids about alcohol.
Here are some tips from Dr. Turrisi’s research:
1. Communicate before a problem starts. It’s important to have discussions before incidents happen – prior to any blaming, anger, or punishment.
2. Discuss rules and consequences. Explaining how and why you expect your teen to behave, should allow for rational discussion of a sometimes emotional issue. Still, it’s important to impart that you don’t want your teen drinking. Discuss and agree on consequences of broken rules.
3. Show you care. Sometimes a gentle touch can help show affection for your teen during this tough conversation. Telling your teen you love them and want them to be healthy and safe is the reason why it’s important to talk about the dangers of underage drinking together.
4. Pay attention. Even when life is stressful, it’s important to make time to listen to your teen, know where your teen is and what your teen is doing.
5. Share family activities, including events such as dinner, to build a bond with your teen.
6. Give and get respect. When your teen talks to you, it’s important to listen and reply respectfully, and to insist your teen do likewise.
7. Enforce consequences consistently. If your teen breaks the rules, stay calm and enforce the consequences you’ve agreed upon.
You can learn more or download the handbook atwww.madd.org/powerofparents.
Jan Withers, MADD National President
Underage drinking is in part a youth problem, but it’s also an adult issue. Over half of all high school age drinkers get their alcohol from an adult, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Plus, half of those adults providing alcohol are parents or other family members.
Although adults can be part of the underage drinking problem, they can also be part of the solution. About three-quarters of teens say parents are the biggest influence on their decision on whether or not to drink.
Most parents want to do the right thing, but don’t know how. Part of that can be knowledge – one out of every five teens binge drink, but only one out of every 100 parents think their teen binge drinks. Sometimes parents take an authoritarian style of parenting that causes them to lose their ability to influence their teen through reason. While others take a hands-off approach, or allow their teen to drink under their supervision, which makes it even more likely that their teen will drink more when away from their parents.
Fortunately, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has teamed up with Dr. Robert Turrisi of Pennsylvania State University to create thePower of Parents handbook. Based on Dr. Turrisi’s research, this handbook gives proven tips on how to talk with your teens about alcohol in a productive, positive way. Parents who read the handbook and have the intentional conversation with their teens about alcohol can reduce underage drinking behaviors by as much as 30 percent. We encourage you to start the conversation this Saturday, April 21st, PowerTalk 21 day — the national day for parents to start talking with their kids about alcohol.
Here are some tips from Dr. Turrisi’s research:
1. Communicate before a problem starts. It’s important to have discussions before incidents happen – prior to any blaming, anger, or punishment.
2. Discuss rules and consequences. Explaining how and why you expect your teen to behave, should allow for rational discussion of a sometimes emotional issue. Still, it’s important to impart that you don’t want your teen drinking. Discuss and agree on consequences of broken rules.
3. Show you care. Sometimes a gentle touch can help show affection for your teen during this tough conversation. Telling your teen you love them and want them to be healthy and safe is the reason why it’s important to talk about the dangers of underage drinking together.
4. Pay attention. Even when life is stressful, it’s important to make time to listen to your teen, know where your teen is and what your teen is doing.
5. Share family activities, including events such as dinner, to build a bond with your teen.
6. Give and get respect. When your teen talks to you, it’s important to listen and reply respectfully, and to insist your teen do likewise.
7. Enforce consequences consistently. If your teen breaks the rules, stay calm and enforce the consequences you’ve agreed upon.
You can learn more or download the handbook atwww.madd.org/powerofparents.
Jan Withers, MADD National President
DEA DIVERSION CONTROL PROGRAM!
NATIONAL TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE
April 28, 2012
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.
Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.
“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”
“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.
Collection Site Locator:
Find a collection site near you. Check back frequently as collection sites are continuously being added.
Law Enforcement Agencies Only:
For law enforcement agencies that wish to host a collection site please call the POC in your area.
Take-Back Day Partnership Toolbox:
Here you will find a list of files that you can download to use for your own purposes.
General Public Inquiries:
Inquiries can be made at 1-800-882-9539.
News Releases
DEA’s Third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Collects 188.5 Tons (November 3, 2011)
Another Huge Turnout At DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event (May 06, 2011)
Additional Resources
DEA would like to express our appreciation to the following.
Drug Disposal Information
FDA – How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
FDA – Disposal of Unused Medicines
Monday, April 23, 2012
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The RADARS System annual meeting encourages prescription drug abuse experts, representatives
from the pharmaceutical industry, medical professionals, and federal regulatory agencies to discuss current trends in prescription drug abuse research and to develop strategies to ensure the safe and proper use of prescription medications. Meeting Summaries:
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Walgreens to Pay $7.9 Million to Resolve Allegations Over Illegal Prescription Transfer
By Join Together Staff | April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inGovernment, Legal, Marketing And Media & Prescription Drugs
The Justice Department announced that Walgreens has agreed to pay the government $7.9 million to resolve allegations the company gave people enrolled in government-run health programs $25 gift cards if they moved their prescriptions over to the pharmacy chain.
Providing such inducements to beneficiaries of government health programs violates federal law, CNN reports. Although Walgreens’ ads generally noted that such offers did not apply to people insured through Medicare, Medicaid and similar programs, the government said the company often ignored these exemptions.
“This case represents the government’s strong commitment to pursuing improper practices in the retail pharmacy industry that have the effect of manipulating patient decisions,” Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General with the U.S. Justice Department, said in a news release.
The Department of Justice noted the claims settled by the agreement are allegations, and there has been no determination of liability.
In early April, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) searched six Walgreens stores and a distribution center in Florida in a crackdown on improper sales of prescription painkillers. Earlier this year, the DEA ordered two CVS pharmacies in Florida to stop selling controlled drugs. The agency was concerned CVS had failed to closely monitor sales of oxycodone.
The DEA has tried to tighten control on major national pharmacies to help prevent painkillers such as oxycodone from getting on the black market. The agency is investigating whether Walgreens allowed suspiciously large sales of prescription opioids, which might indicate the pills are being diverted..
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