# Presentation: 108598

## Prescription Drugs

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

**Notes:**
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.

## What Are Prescription Pain Relievers?

**What Are Prescription Pain Relievers?**

- Two categories:
- Opioids
- Narcotics
- Examples:
- Codeine
- Percocet
- Vicodin

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

## What Do They Look Like?

- Prescription pain relievers come in tablet and capsule form.

**Notes:**
Prescription pain relievers come in tablet and capsule form.

## How They Appear

**How They Appear**

## What are some of the signs that a person is using prescription pain relievers?

**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

**Notes:**
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. 

## Some Short-term Effects

**Some Short-term Effects**

- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Slowed breathing
- Severe respiratory depression that can lead to death
- Use of prescription pain relievers with alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or general anesthetics:
-  Increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression

**Notes:**
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.

## Some Long-term Effects

**Some Long-term Effects**

- 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
- Cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey")

**Notes:**
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.

## What is the DEA Federal Classification Schedule for prescription pain relievers?

- Prescription pain relievers are listed as DEA Federal Classification Schedule II drugs, meaning that they are in the group of the most highly addictive drugs.

**Notes:**
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.

## What are prescription sedatives & tranquilizers

**What are prescription ****sedatives & tranquilizers**

- Megara, Quaaludes, Xanax and Valium (benzodiazepines), and Nembutal
- Barbiturates are prescription sedatives or “sleeping pills”
- Benzodiazepines are prescription "tranquilizers"
- These medications act as central nervous system depressants

**Notes:**
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.  

## What Do They Look Like?

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

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

## How They Appear 

**How They Appear**** **

## What are some of the signs that a person is using prescription sedatives & tranquilizers?

**What are some of the signs that a person is using prescription sedatives & 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

**Notes:**
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.

## Some Short-term Effects

- Euphoria
- Slow normal brain function
- Slurred speech
- Shallow breathing
- Sluggishness
- Fatigue
- Disorientation
- Lack of coordination
- Dilated pupils

- During first few days:
- Feel sleepy and uncoordinated
- Higher doses cause:
- Impairment of memory
- Loss of judgment and coordination
- Irritability
- Paranoid and suicidal tendencies

**Notes:**
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.

## Some Long-term Effects

**Some Long-term Effects**

- Continued use can lead to physical dependency and, if reduced or stopped abruptly, withdrawal symptoms may occur
- Works by slowing the brain's activity; when a person stops taking them, a rebound effect, leading to seizures and other harmful consequences, is possible
- Tolerance to the drug's effects can also occur, meaning that larger doses are needed to achieve similar effects as those experienced initially
- Continued use may lead to taking higher doses and risk of an overdose
- Addiction can also occur, meaning that users continue to take these drugs despite their harmful consequences

**Notes:**
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.

## What is the DEA Federal  Classification Schedule for prescription sedatives & tranquilizers?

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

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

## What are Prescription Stimulants?

**What are Prescription Stimulants?**

- Adderall, dexedrine, and ritalin
- Enhance brain activity
- Used to treat asthma, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other ailments, before their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent

**Notes:**
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.

## What Do They Look Like?

- Prescription stimulants come in tablet and capsule form.

**Notes:**
Prescription stimulants come in tablet and capsule form.

## How They Appear

**How They Appear**

## What are some of the signs that a person is using prescription stimulants?

**What are some of the signs that a person is using prescription stimulants?**

- Effects can feel like:
-  An increased alertness
-  Attention
-  Energy along with a sense of euphoria

**Notes:**
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.

## Some Short-term Effects

**Some Short-term Effects**

- Increases the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain:
- Increases blood pressure and heart rate
- Constricts blood vessels
- Increases blood glucose
- Increases breathing
- Also potential for cardiovascular failure (heart attack) or lethal seizures

**Notes:**
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.

## Some Long-term Effects

**Some Long-term Effects**

- Can be addictive
- Taking high doses repeatedly over a short time can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia
- High doses may result in dangerously high body temperatures and an irregular heartbeat
- Also the potential for cardiovascular failure (heart attack) or lethal seizures

**Notes:**
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.

## What is the DEA Federal Classification Schedule 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.

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

## Penalties for Possession

**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

**Notes:**
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

## As a member of CAP, what should you do if you know someone who is abusing prescription drugs?

- Notify one of the following:
- Deputy Commander for Cadets/Cadet Programs Officer
- Chaplain/Moral Leadership Officer
- Unit Commander

**Notes:**
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.

## 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.

**Notes:**
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.

## 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!

**Notes:**
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!

## Summary

**Summary**

- Misuse of prescription drugs can become serious business
- Effects will not be as you expect and will become effects that you will not want
- All misused prescription drugs in any of these categories can lead to death
- If you need a prescription, there are many legal ways of obtaining one
- Always stop and think about what you will be doing to yourself if you take illegal drugs or misuse legal drugs

**Notes:**
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?”

## Lesson Plan Resources

**Lesson Plan Resources**

*Prescription Pain Relievers, Prescription Sedatives and Tranquilizers, *and *Prescription Stimulants *are available on National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) website at _www.drugfree.org_
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s website is _www.dea.gov_

**Notes:**
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, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s website is www.dea.gov.

## Don’t march with these guys,say NO to drugs!

**DEAD MEN WALKING**

**Notes:**
Dead men walking.