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Street Names:
Opioids: OxyContin, Darvon, Vicodin, Dilaudid, Demerol, and Lomotil.
Central nervous system depressants: Valium and Xanax.
Stimulants: Dexedrine and Ritalin.
Know the Facts
Prescription drugs that are used for nonmedical reasons can alter brain functions and lead to dependence.
Prescription drugs, a category of psychotherapeutics that comprises prescription-type pain relievers, tranquilizers,
stimulants, and sedatives, are among the substances most commonly abused by young people in the United States.
Prescription drugs are readily available and can easily be obtained by teenagers who abuse these drugs to experience
a variety of desired effects. Often these young people are unaware of the serious health risks associated with abusing prescription drugs.
Increasingly, younger adolescents obtain prescription drugs from classmates, friends, and family members, or they steal
the drugs from school medicine dispensaries and from people for whom the drug had been legitimately prescribed.
Long-term use of opioids or central nervous system depressants can lead to physical dependence and addiction.
Taken in high doses, stimulants can lead to compulsive use, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, and irregular heartbeat.
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