Abusing Rx meds - how common is this?

Dionysus · #1 08-08-2004, 10:35 PM

I saw True Life -"I'm on Adderall" a few nights ago. This guy at Miami University claims that he knows at least 20 people who abuse drugs like Adderall. That sounds like a lot, I didn't know it is that common. I only know 2 or 3 people who does this. How many people do you know who abuse prescription stimulant meds? Have you ever abused them?

The1calledTKE · #2 08-08-2004, 10:43 PM

Ask Rush Limbaugh.

_Lisa_ · #3 08-08-2004, 10:50 PM

Goodness...this happens just about everywhere. Eastern Kentucky is leading the nation in abuse of prescription medication and although I don't live in Eastern Kentucky its still everywhere around here. I could name at least 10 good friends of mine that either currently are or have been addicted to prescription meds. And to take it a step further, I can't name a person who doesn't know someone who abuses prescription medications.

Most of the people I know that abuse prescription meds aren't abusing their own but someone else's meds who choses to sell them for profit. I even know an 87-year old woman that I used to work with who went by the name "Sparkle" to her "younger" friends and would not only sell her Xanax but just give it away to those she liked in hopes of "hooking" them so she could sell more. I also used to work with a lady named Penny who would sell her vicodin from the store we worked in, sometimes to my manager!

D_Chi_Zinni · #4 08-08-2004, 11:00 PM

during finals a bunch of my friends took aderol to study better. I tried it too, and it is really weird how you just cant sit down and get a ton of stuff done. I guess it has been really common around here though like in highschool we used to take vicodin all the time. I never really looked at it as abuse at the time though, i guess I was just nieve though.

Kevin · #5 08-08-2004, 11:20 PM

It's so common to abuse that stuff these days. When I was subbing HS, it was very common to have a kid using some kind of medication to get messed up in class.

norcalchick · #6 08-08-2004, 11:38 PM

I saw parts of that show also but didn't catch what adderol does. Can someone explain please?

I had friends that would take vicodin and drink or something.

Dionysus · #7 08-08-2004, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by norcalchick
I saw parts of that show also but didn't catch what adderol does. Can someone explain please?

I had friends that would take vicodin and drink or something.

It is a cousin of Ritalin.

Taken orally, it helps to control the symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy. If it is snorted or injected, it gives similar effects of cocaine. People abuse this to pull all-nighters and/or lessen the effects of alcohol.

Rudey · #8 08-09-2004, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dionysus
It is a cousin of Ritalin.

Taken orally, it helps to control the symptoms of ADHD and narcolepsy. If it is snorted or injected, it gives similar effects of cocaine. People abuse this to pull all-nighters and/or lessen the effects of alcohol.

Not quite dude - some of the euophoria of coke is there but it's still different, probably more like speed. The thing with bopping or snorting the adderall is that the effects are really short. I knew a lot of kids that took it. It's huge at more competitive schools...

-Rudey

ADqtPiMel · #9 08-09-2004, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dionysus
I saw True Life -"I'm on Adderall" a few nights ago. This guy at Miami University claims that he knows at least 20 people who abuse drugs like Adderall. That sounds like a lot, I didn't know it is that common. I only know 2 or 3 people who does this. How many people do you know who abuse prescription stimulant meds? Have you ever abused them?

I go to Miami University. I know of at least four girls in my freshman corridor of about 20 people who used Adderall on a daily basis to focus for studying. It's even more prevalent during finals week. I would guess that it's similar elsewhere.

mu_agd · #10 08-09-2004, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ADqtPiMel
I go to Miami University. I know of at least four girls in my freshman corridor of about 20 people who used Adderall on a daily basis to focus for studying. It's even more prevalent during finals week. I would guess that it's similar elsewhere.

i was just coming to post this! and i saw that episode too.. a certain fraternity has had people on maaaany shows over the past few years.

Dionysus · #11 08-09-2004, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
Not quite dude - some of the euophoria of coke is there but it's still different, probably more like speed.

-Rudey

My bad.

Dionysus · #12 08-09-2004, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ADqtPiMel
I go to Miami University. I know of at least four girls in my freshman corridor of about 20 people who used Adderall on a daily basis to focus for studying. It's even more prevalent during finals week. I would guess that it's similar elsewhere.

So do you know this guy from the first story? He's a Theta Chi and a 21 y.o. senior majoring in psychology.

winneythepooh7 · #13 08-09-2004, 02:04 PM

Prescription drug abuse is VERY common. I know that a lot of my clients I work with who have history of substance abuse (ie. crack, marijuana, alcohol) go to their psychiatrist and try to get prescriptions for other types of meds, especially sleep meds. Often people will report to be feeling pain, which is often psychosomatic in nature. If their doctor is aware of their SA history they are not going to prescribe these meds to them so like a regular drug dealer, they get it that way. Also clients sell their meds to other clients. This is a huge problem, especially with clients who have AIDS. Often people with AIDS and/or mental illness are hopeless about their situation and in a financial bind so it makes perfect sense they would turn around and sell their meds.

ADqtPiMel · #14 08-09-2004, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dionysus
So do you know this guy from the first story? He's a Theta Chi and a 21 y.o. senior majoring in psychology.

I didn't see the show, so I'm not sure if I know him or not.

DeltaSigStan · #15 08-09-2004, 02:27 PM

Adderol around SDSU is a hit during test times.

Vicatin is pretty common. Our health services can't WAIT to give that stuff away, and someone always manages to get hurt and get some.

Xanex is also a hit, but people are weary because two bars will put you OUT. I like it, but I'm too sluggish the day after.

Valium is pretty cool, but not for parties.

Dexadrine is hard to come by, since you need to get used to that stuff to really feel the effects.

I've also seen people take morphine in pill form, which is wierd.