*Civil Air Patrol*

*Drug Demand Reduction*

*Program*

*Lesson 14*

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*Prescription Drugs*

*This Lesson Plan Produced By Your Drug Demand Reduction Program*

Prescription Drugs

PART I

GENERAL Information

LESSON OBJECTIVES: The objective of this lesson is for each member to:

1\. Better understand the difference between the effects of the various
prescription drugs used.

2\. Be able to spot some of the signs that young people may be involved
in abusing prescription drugs.

Desired Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this lesson, each member
will:

1\. Have information on how abuse of prescription drugs can adversely
affect a person.

2\. Recognize some of the indications of someone abusing prescription
drugs.

LENGTH OF LESSON: 30 -- 35 minutes

METHOD: Lecture and Discussion

REFERENCES:

1\. *Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription Sedatives and
Tranquilizers,* and *Prescription Stimulants* *(*National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA))

2\. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

VISUAL AIDS/HANDOUTS/ACTIVITY MATERIALS: 29 Animated Slides

READINGS:

1\. *Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription Sedatives and
Tranquilizers,* and *Prescription Stimulants* (National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA))

2\. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

WEBSITES: [www.drugfree.org](http://www.drugfree.org/)

> [www.dea.gov]{.underline}

KEYS TO IMPLEMENTING LESSON OBJECTIVES: Familiarize oneself with the
difference between prescription pain relievers, prescription sedatives
and tranquilizers, and prescription stimulants. Become familiar with the
dangers and what abusing any of the prescribed drugs will do to your
body. Also, review applicable websites for additional information.

PART II

LESSON PLAN

##### 

##### INTRODUCTION

##### SLIDE 1 -- PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Prescription drugs are many and varied. This lesson will focus on the
effect of pain relievers (oxycontin, a popular pain reliever, has
already been studied in another lesson and will not be included in the
lesson), sedatives, tranquilizers and stimulants. Abusing ANY
prescription drug is very dangerous and may cause serious damage to you.
Always take prescription drugs exactly as prescribed by your doctor or
pharmacist.

BODY

SLIDE 2 -- WHAT ARE PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS?

Pain relievers fall into two categories: opioids or narcotics. Some
names for prescription pain relievers are codeine, percocet and vicodin.

SLIDE 3 -- WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

Prescription pain relievers come in tablet and capsule form.

SLIDE 4 -- HOW THEY APPEAR

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.6166666666666667in" height="1.74375in"}

SLIDE 5 -- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT A PERSON IS USING
PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS?

Medically, they are prescribed as analgesics to treat pain. In some
people, prescription pain relievers also cause euphoria or feelings of
well being by affecting the brain regions that mediate pleasure.

SLIDE 6 -- SOME SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

Other effects include drowsiness, constipation and slowed breathing.
Taking a large single dose of prescription pain relievers can cause
severe respiratory depression that can lead to death. Use of
prescription pain relievers with other substances that depress the
central nervous system, such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates,
benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics, increases the risk of
life-threatening respiratory depression.

SLIDE 7 -- SOME LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Taken exactly as prescribed, pain relievers can manage pain effectively.
But chronic use or abuse of opioids can result in physical dependence
and addiction. Dependence means that the body adapts to the presence of
the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or stopped.
Symptoms of withdrawal include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain,
insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes with goose bumps (\"cold
turkey\"). Tolerance to the drug\'s effects also occurs with long-term
use, so users must take higher doses to achieve the same or similar
effects as experienced initially. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing
disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use.

SLIDE 8 -- WHAT IS THE DEA FEDERAL CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR
PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS?

Prescription pain relievers are listed as DEA Federal Classification
Schedule I drugs, meaning that it is in the group of the most highly
addictive drugs.

SLIDE 9 -- WHAT ARE PRESCRIPTION SEDATIVES AND TRANQUILIZERS?

Some names for the prescription sedative and tranquilizers are mebaral,
quaaludes, xanax and valium (benzodiazepines), and nembutal.
Barbiturates are prescription sedatives or "sleeping pills," and
benzodiazepines are prescription \"tranquilizers.\" These medications
act as central nervous system depressants.

SLIDE 10 -- WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

Multi-colored tablets and capsules; some can be in liquid form.

SLIDE 11 -- HOW THEY APPEAR

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.2583333333333333in"
height="1.5409722222222222in"}

SLIDE 12 -- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT A PERSON IS USING
PRESCRIPTION SEDATIVES AND TRANQUILIZERS?

Medically, barbiturates are prescribed for acute anxiety, tension and
sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines are prescribed for anxiety, acute
stress reactions, and panic attacks. When abused, they are swallowed or
injected.

SLIDE 13 -- SOME SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

Prescription sedatives and tranquilizers can cause euphoria. They also
slow normal brain function, which may result in slurred speech, shallow
breathing, sluggishness, fatigue, disorientation and lack of
coordination or dilated pupils. During the first few days of taking a
prescribed sedative or tranquilizer, a person usually feels sleepy and
uncoordinated, but as the body becomes accustomed to the effects of the
drug, these feelings begin to disappear. Higher doses cause impairment
of memory, judgment and coordination, irritability, paranoia and
suicidal tendencies. Some people experience a paradoxical reaction to
these drugs and can become agitated or aggressive. Using prescription
sedatives and tranquilizers with other substances, particularly alcohol,
can slow breathing, or slow both the heart and respiration, and possibly
lead to death.

SLIDE 14 -- SOME LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Continued use can lead to physical dependency and, when use is reduced
or stopped abruptly, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Because all
prescription sedatives and tranquilizers work by slowing the brain\'s
activity, when an individual stops taking them, there can be a rebound
effect, possibly leading to seizures and other harmful consequences.
Tolerance to the drug\'s effects can also occur, meaning that larger
doses are needed to achieve similar effects as those experienced
initially. This may lead users to take higher doses and risk the
occurrence of an overdose. Addiction can also occur, meaning that users
continue to take these drugs despite their harmful consequences.

SLIDE 15 -- WHAT IS THE DEA FEDERAL CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR
PRESCRIPTION SEDATIVES AND TRANQUILIZERS?

Prescription sedatives and tranquilizers are listed as DEA Federal
Classification Schedule IV drugs.

SLIDE 16 -- WHAT ARE PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS?

Some of the names for the prescription stimulants are adderall,
dexedrine and ritalin. They are a class of drugs that enhance brain
activity. Prescription stimulants were used historically to treat
asthma, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other
ailments, before their potential for abuse and addiction became
apparent.

SLIDE 17 -- WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

Prescription stimulants come in tablet and capsule form.

SLIDE 18 -- HOW DO THEY APPEAR

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height="1.613888888888889in"}

SLIDE 19 -- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT A PESON IS USING
PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS?

Effects can feel like an increase alertness, attention, and energy along
with a sense of euphoria. Medically, they are now prescribed for only a
few health conditions, including narcolepsy, attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder and short-term treatment of obesity. They are
swallowed and may be injected when abused.

SLIDE 20 -- SOME SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

Stimulants increase the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in the
brain, which increases blood pressure and heart rate, constricts blood
vessels, increases blood glucose, and increases breathing. There is also
the potential for cardiovascular failure (heart attack) or lethal
seizures.

SLIDE 21 -- SOME LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Stimulants can be addictive in that individuals begin to use them
compulsively. Taking high doses of some stimulants repeatedly over a
short time can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia. Additionally,
taking high doses of a stimulant may result in dangerously high body
temperatures and an irregular heartbeat. There is also the potential for
cardiovascular failure (heart attack) or lethal seizures.

SLIDE 22 -- WHAT IS THE DEA FEDERAL CLASSIFICATION SCHEUDLE FOR
PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS?

Prescription stimulants are listed by DEA as Federal Classification
Schedule II drugs, which is based on amount in possession and previous
offenses.

SLIDE 23 -- PENALTIES FOR POSSESSION

The following penalties range from DEA Federal Classification Schedule I
through IV:

-   Penalties for first offense: 3 to 20 years imprisonment

-   Penalties for second offense: 6 to 30 years imprisonment

SLIDE 24 -- AS A MEMBER OF CAP, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE
WHO IS ABUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?

Since not all CAP units are staffed with the same duty positions, you
should notify one of the following: Deputy Commander for Cadets/Cadet
Programs Officer; Chaplain/Moral Leadership Officer; Unit Commander.

SLIDE 25 -- WHY DO PEOPLE ABUSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?

To relieve pain; To calm their anxiety; To loose weight; They think they
know better than the doctor that prescribed the medicine; Forgot they
had already taken some.

SLIDE 26 -- WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU CAN SAY "NO" TO DRUGS WITHOUT
ISOLATING YOURSELF?

I'm not taking any prescription drug without a doctor's okay! Those
aren't prescribed for me. I don't want to lose weight that bad! What
part of NO don\'t you understand? Leave me alone!

PART III

##### CONCLUSION

SLIDE 27 -- SUMMARY

Misuse of prescription drugs can become serious business. The effects
will not be as you expect and will become effects that you will not
want. We have looked at the Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription
Sedatives and Tranquilizers, and Prescription Stimulants categories of
prescription drugs; all misused prescription drugs in any of these
categories can lead to death. All prescriptions are to be used only as
prescribed by a licensed doctor or pharmacist. If they are not used
correctly, it is considered abuse and the associated dangers exist. Are
a few hours of "fun" worth all the side effects? If you need a
prescription, there are many ways of obtaining one legally. Always stop
and think about what you will be doing to yourself if you take illegal
drugs or misuse legal drugs. Ask yourself, "Aren't I worth more than
this?"

SLIDE 28 -- LESSON PLAN RESOURCES

*Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription Sedatives and Tranquilizers,*
and *Prescription Stimulants* are available on the National Institute on
Drug Abuse (NIDA) website at
[**www.drugfree.org**](http://www.drugfree.org/), and U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration's website is [www.dea.gov]{.underline}.

SLIDE 29 -- DON'T MARCH WITH THESE GUYS, SAY NO TO DRUGS!

Dead men walking.