If you hear your teen or young adult mention a “pharm” party, perhaps a bonfire and an illicit keg come to mind. Think again! "Pharm" is short for pharmaceutical; “pharm parties” reflect a rapidly growing trend in youth drug culture: the abuse of prescription drugs by teens and young adults.
What is a “pharm party?”
At a “pharm party,” teens share and mix various prescription medications, especially painkillers (OxyContin and Vicodin); tranquilizers (Xanax and Valium), stimulants (Ritalin and adderall); and sedatives. Also common are cold medications containing alcohol or codeine, and cough medicines containing the dissociative anaesthetic dextromethorphine. Alcohol is often added to the “cocktail,” increasing the danger.
How widespread is prescription drug abuse?
According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America,
· 1 in 5 teens has abused a prescription pain medication
· 1 in 5 report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers
· 1 in 10 has abused cough medication
Why is this happening?
· Prescription drugs are widely available to teens, both their own and those prescribed for their parents.
· Teens may have an erroneous belief that if it came from the medicine cabinet, it must be safe. In reality, sharing and mixing prescription medications can be lethal
What should parents do?
· Pay attention to the statistics on prescription drug abuse! All teens – and children as young as twelve, are at risk for this activity.
· Educate yourself – and then find teachable moments to educate your kids.
o Like street drugs, prescription drugs can be lethal.
o Drug interactions, and mixing drugs and alcohol can be lethal. .
o Some prescription drugs are addictive and have to be used with caution.
· Don’t be naïve. Lock up prescription drugs that have the potential for abuse. Be aware of how many pills are left in the bottle; consider flushing the leftovers. Even if you believe that your own child won’t misuse these medications, they need to be kept out of reach of visiting friends. Encourage critical thinking about the use of drugs to alleviate emotional pain. Use television shows and movies as conversation openers about how to cope with the difficulties of everyday living that can feel so overwhelming to teens – like failing a test or breaking up with a boyfriend.
· Don’t underestimate the power of peer pressure to influence your teen to share their own – and your – medications with their friends. Teach your kids how to manage peer pressure.
· Recognize the non-specific signs suggestive of drug misuse, which include fatigue, loss of interest in hobbies, and poor school performance.
Resources
http://www.drugfree.org/
http://www.checkyourself.com/About.aspx
References
www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-06-12-teens-pharm-drugs_x.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2411936&page=1
http://www.azcentral.com/health/kids/articles/0613Pharming-ON.html