In America the rate of prescription drug abuse is fast overtaking illegal drug abuse and South Africa seems to be following the same trend. Here are the facts.

Cause for concern

Over-the-counter (OTCs) and prescription medicines and drugs are legally sold and prescribed to help and heal. Unfortunately, many contain ingredients that are highly addictive with serious side-effects when misused and abused. South Africa has its own, unique, legal and illegal drug and alcohol abuse problems.

The following drugs must be handled with care:

Nicotine/cigarettes

Nicotine is one of the most accessible and addictive legal drugs on the market. People get addicted very quickly and find quitting extremely difficult. Some reckon it’s harder to quit smoking than to stop drinking!

Analgesics/pain killers

Analgesics are substances that provide relief from pain. Mild analgesics, such as aspirin or paracetamol, ibuprofen, tylenol, and naproxen are relatively harmless but opiate analgesics are stronger, very powerful pain killers that are often abused.

Opiates/strong painkillers, as the name indicates, are refined from an extract obtained from opium poppies while others are produced by chemical synthesis. Opiates such as vicodin, oxycontin and percocet are derivatives of opium as is morphine, heroin and codeine. Synthetic analgesics include methadone, physeptone, pethidine, diconal and palfium. In South Africa heroin, morphine, paregoric and cough syrups that contain codeine are heavily abused.

Depressants

These are substances that slow down or depress the central nervous system calming down anxious people and promoting sleep. Depressant drugs include:
•    Alcohol
•    Barbiturates
•    Benzodiazepines
•    Sleep medicine

Alcohol

Alcohol poses an enormous problem because so many people abuse it. According to statistics 45 to 50% of all non-natural deaths on the roads are caused by drunk drivers.

Barbiturates

Barbiturates such as secobarbital (seconal) and pentobarbital (nembutal) are major depressant drugs used as sedatives, tranquillisers and in sleeping pills.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are used to treat severe anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia. Examples include diazepam (valium), chlordiazepoxide (librium), nitrazepam (mogodon), temazepam, xanax and klonopin. Today, valium, librium and temazepam are some of the most commonly abused tranquillisers in use. However, prescribed doses of tranquillisers are quite safe and well tolerated when used under a doctor’s supervision. The biggest danger lies in combining them with alcohol, heroin or other drugs. Most fatal drug overdoses are benzo-opiad combos.

Sleep medicines

Sleep medicines such as ambien is highly effective when used to thwart insomnia. The downside is that it is very easy to become dependent and, once you start using ambien regularly, it’s almost impossible to fall asleep without it. So, beware and only use it for short periods as prescribed.

Stimulants

Stimulants are drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, increasing alertness and physical activity. They include amphetamines, cocaine, crack and some inhalants like amyl or butyl nitrites. However, the abuse of legally prescribed stimulants such as ritalin, adderall and concerta (intended to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) has become very troublesome especially among high school and university students who take it to help them study better. These stimulants may have serious side-effects when abused.

Cough syrups

OTC flu and pain, sinus and cough mixtures such as Benylin C; Syndol, AdcoDol, Tensodol, Sinutab C, and Sinumax usually contain codeine. Codeine is made from opium which is highly addictive. It can be lethal when used in excessive amounts or when mixed with alcohol. As of January 2014, patients are required to supply key personal details including ID numbers, when they purchase a range of popular OTC medications containing codeine.

Anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are synthetic variants of the male sex hormone testosterone. They are legally prescribed to treat conditions such as delayed puberty and Aids and cancer that cause loss of lean muscle mass. They are, however, extensively abused by healthy adolescents and older men and women to build muscle mass and improve physical appearance. These drugs have serious side-effects after prolonged use, especially in adolescents.

Stay safe

The best possible way to stay safe and not abuse OTC and prescribed drugs and medicines is to read the “inserts” in each packet, educate yourself to recognise addictive substances, ask your doctor or pharmacist when in doubt and prevent overdosing by never increasing either the dosage or period of use of medicines unless told by your doctor or pharmacist to do so.

 

Sources
Codeine: watch out! Retrieved from: http://www.health24.com/Medical/Meds-and-you/News/It-relieves-pain-but-be-careful-20130613
Commonly abused prescription and OTC drugs Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/ss/slideshow-commonly-abused-drugs
Drug types. Retrieved from: http://www.darvsmith.com/dox/drugtypes.html
8 most addictive legal drugs. Retrieved from: http://www.mensjournal.com/expert-advice/8-most-addictive-legal-drugs-20140226#ixzz32cgWrqzN
Hitti, M. Prescription painkiller addiction: 7 myths. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/prescription-painkiller-addiction-7-myths
South Africa finally acts to control misuse of the popular drug codeine. Retrieved from: http://www.Frontshop.co.za/South-Africa-finally-acts-control-misuse-popular-drug-codeine
Tomilowitze, S. Prescription drugs: how bad could it be? Retrieved from: http://www.capechameleon.co.za/printed-version/issue-13/cover-story/