1. Prescription Drugs By: Alejandra Arevalo && Alyssa Richards

2. Nearly 1.3 million Americans 12 and older abuse prescription drugs and require treatment for their problem, a new study concludes. The number of young adults(ages 12 to 25) who were new abusers of prescription drugs grew from 400,000 in the mid-’80s to 2 million in 2000.

3. Here are some examples of prescription drugs and what they are used for…

4. 1. Opioids Examples: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and meperidine (Demerol) Medical uses: Opioids are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea. How they work: Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), preventing the brain from receiving pain messages.

5. 2. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Examples: pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax) Medical uses: CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks, and sleep disorders. How they work: CNS depressants slow down brain activity by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. The result is a drowsy or calming effect

6. 3. Stimulants Examples: methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) Medical uses: Stimulants can be used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD. How they work: Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy.

7. Actor Heath Ledger (Joker On “Dark Night”) died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleeping pills. Brittney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and other “celebrities” have also been known to take these medications.

8. Using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person's health. This risk is higher when prescription drugs like opioids are taken with other substances like alcohol, antihistamines, and CNS depressants. Stopping or reducing the drugs too quickly can lead to seizures. Taking CNS depressants with other medicationscan slow a person's heartbeat and breathing — and even kill.

9. Taking too much of a stimulant can lead a person to develop a dangerously high body temperature or an irregular heartbeat. Taking several high doses over a short period of time may make a drug abuser aggressive or paranoid. The dangers of prescription drug abuse can be made even worse if people take drugs in a way they aren't supposed to.

10. STREET TERMDEFINITIONS Blue Crack : depressants Hillbilly heroin :OxyContin Pharming :Consuming a mixture of prescription substances Pill ladies :Female senior citizens who sell Pills Depressants,methaqualone : Ludes Ritalin (methylphenidate): Vitamin R

11. Find out more at… http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/ http://kidshealth.org http://www.prescription-drug-abuse.org/ http://www.justice.gov/