Drugs have been making big news in recent months. Have you heard the latest? One of the top stories involves teenage drug abuse. While it’s probably no surprise that marijuana still ranks No. 1 with teens, their second choice may surprise you. Other stories report that more people than ever are taking prescription drugs on a permanent basis, and similar-sounding drugs have caused serious confusion. Being aware of these topics can help you take better care of yourself and those you love.

Illegal use of legal drugs
Today’s teens face a different drug culture than their parents did. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently estimated that prescription drug abuse has increased 80 percent since 2000. Next to marijuana, prescription drugs are now the most commonly abused drugs by young people ages 12 to 17. The media has even dubbed today’s teens as “Generation Rx” — although they abuse over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, too.

“Teens mistakenly assume ‘legal’ drugs are safer than illegal drugs,” says Amy Gannon, PharmD, a pharmacist with Pharmacy @ Park Nicollet. “But, when they’re intentionally used for getting high, they can be extremely addictive, dangerous or deadly, especially when mixed with other drugs or alcohol.”

Even misusing prescription drugs has the potential to kill, as the recent death of actor Heath Ledger exemplifies. The medical examiner reports he died from combining six different painkillers and sedatives.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse says the most frequently abused “legal” drugs include:

• painkillers, such as Vicodin® and OxyContin®
• stimulants, such as Ritalin®
• depressants, such as Valium® and Xanax®
• cough medicines (containing dextromethorphan), such as Robitussin® DM
• decongestants (containing pseudoephedrine), such as Sudafed®
• sleeping aids, such as Tylenol® PM
• antihistamines, such as Benadryl®
• motion-sickness medications, such as Dramamine®

To help prevent abuse, Gannon encourages parents to educate themselves on the abuse of “legal” drugs and discuss it with their teens. “I also urge parents to keep close tabs on all medications, and safely dispose of any that are no longer being used.”

Similar names — scary results
In other news, The U.S. Pharmacopeia, a group that sets standards for the purity and potency of medications, examined many cases of hospital patients receiving the wrong medications. They discovered that the problem was not due to negligence, but rather from confusion with so many sound-alike drugs. In researching these mistakes, they found 3,170 drugs that had similar spellings — nearly double their 2004 analysis.

“In most cases, sound-alike drugs treat completely different conditions,” Gannon explains. “To avoid confusion, the state of Minnesota mandated that pharmacists counsel patients on all new medications, making sure they mention the drug’s name and what it’s used for.” Many hospitals throughout the nation are now doing the same.

Chronic conditions, chronic medications
Several weeks ago, a company that manages prescription benefits announced that more than half of all insured Americans now take regular prescription medications for chronic conditions. Does this mean our health is getting worse?

Experts have different opinions. Some say this increase is due to better medications being available to treat chronic conditions, such as depression, diabetes, asthma, attention-deficit disorders and seizures. Also, some conditions that were once fatal are now considered chronic, such as AIDS, some cancers, hemophilia and sickle cell disease.

Others say this increase is due to a more aggressive approach on the part of doctors, which some claim is inspired by the pharmaceutical industry’s relentless advertising. Still others say this increase reflects our couch potato culture — it’s easier to pop a pill than to exercise.

What’s your take? With all these stories, becoming more informed can help you play a more active role in monitoring your health and the health of those you love.

To learn more about drugs in the news, call 952-993-5500. Or visit parknicollet.com/stores/pharmacy to learn more about Pharmacy @ Park Nicollet.