Drug Abuse, step one:

When you think of drug abusers, what comes to mind?

Now, think again about drug abusers, and substitute the image you visualized with a grandmother, a teacher, a minister, college student, or even yourself.

I used to think that marijuana was THE gateway drug. Now I think it is pain relievers, starting with harmless little old aspirin. We have been taught for years to take a pill and the pain will go away. So convenient! Now that I am in my fifties, I am noticing that there is a lot more pain and a lot less time so it’s a Tylenol here and an Aleve there. If I don’t take too many and have a variety, that is better, right?

This is me normally as a teen. Honest!

So, plain old over the counter pain killers are commonly abused.

These are the gateway drugs, if you ask me. It was in high school that I first heard of a way to get high with aspirin. Just take it with a Coke, on an empty stomach is best. This was when aspirin was still ok for kids to take. Reyes Syndrome was not a new notion in those days, and in truth a school mate had died from Reye's Syndrome. But it was not a firm theology to avoid aspirin yet then.

The other issue with aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen and similar drugs is that we do not think of them as being drugs, not really. A drug is something like Tylenol three or Percocet. But anything that is medication consists of drugs, a fact to keep in mind. Also, too much of any of these meds is bad for your body. Do you really want to have issues with bleeding ulcers or liver damage?

Do not exceed the prescribed dosage on any medication. This is not a good idea.

It is also a very good idea to check your other medications for interactions. I was prescribed a medication for restless legs. I got a headache, and thought nothing of taking an aspirin for it. Big mistake! On that particular medication just about any and all other medications interacts badly! I stopped that medication pronto. It was too scary. Read those drug inserts, folks, they can save you a lot of grief!

The thing is, our brains are tricky manipulative little buggers who figure out that if one pill helps the pain, another would help more.  Like Pavlov’s dog, an ache or pain is the bell that calls for a reward of pain relieving bliss. Instead of physical activity such as stretching or walking we baby the pain with pills. Instead of quiet rest with a cold compress on the eyes, we keep reading or working on the computer or driving. We of this current culture, with all its gizmos and doo-dads and time-consuming things, do not know how to rest.

Read the label and the package insert for safe use of medications

This is all basic stuff. What do I mean by drug abuse?

Taking more than the prescription reads, or more than is suggested on the package of over the counter medications, is drug abuse. You have a doctor written prescription for pain medication. You only use it when you need it, it is to help you. But if you take more than the doctor has prescribed, that counts as drug abuse. That means your prescription will run out sooner than it is written for and you will be shocked by the fact that the doctor will not do an early refill for you.

Say your sister has a migraine medication. You get a migraine. She gives you one of her pills. This is illegal. It is also unsafe. Say your sister is a heavy person and you are thin. The dosage is designed for her, and you may actually receive an overdose. Never take a drug that has not been prescribed for you.  You wouldn’t borrow someone’s prescription glasses would you? Prescriptions are not one size fits all.

Taking or using medications in a way other than they were prescribed is drug abuse. For instance, crushing an extended release pill is not how it is prescribed. It is designed for the medication to be released over time. When a pill like this is crushed, the medication is felt all at once. Don’t cut pills that are not designed to be cut. Don’t open capsules. If swallowing pills is difficult for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist. There may be an alternative method for that medication.

I am working hard on developing good habits with medications. This includes reading the insert that comes with prescribed medications and sticking to the suggested dose on the packages. Before I became a medical assistant, I was pretty ignorant about these things. If you cannot read or understand the inserts, ask your pharmacist. They can also tell you about possible interactions with other medications you may be taking.  There are also drug books that are easier to read for people without medical degrees, and websites that help.