Health / Unit 6: Substance Use Prevention
6.5 Other Drugs and Prescription Medicine Misuse
Notes
Other drugs include prescription medicines used wrongly, inhalants, stimulants and opioids.
- Prescription drug misuse means taking a medicine without a prescription, taking more than prescribed or taking someone else's. A medicine is safe only for the person it was prescribed for, and at the right dose.
- Opioids (such as some pain medicines) and fentanyl can slow or stop breathing, causing overdose and death. Illegal pills are often fake and can contain fentanyl without the person knowing.
- Stimulants (some ADHD medicines, cocaine, meth) speed up the body and can cause dangerous heart problems when misused.
- Inhalants are household chemicals such as sprays and glue that damage the brain and can cause sudden death.
- Signs of an overdose: trouble breathing, blue lips, unresponsiveness. Call 911 right away.
- Medicines should be stored safely and kept away from others.
Practice
Which is an example of prescription drug misuse?
A prescription is only safe for the person it was prescribed for.
Why is a pill from a friend or the internet especially dangerous?
Counterfeit pills can contain deadly drugs.
A person has blue lips, is not responding and is breathing very slowly after taking pills. What should you do first?
Slow breathing and unresponsiveness signal a medical emergency.
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