With the emergence of synthetic drugs abuse, prescription drug addiction and of course the ever-looming presence of street drugs, our youth today face a grave challenge. Growing up is tough enough as it is, but with so many schools now infected with substance abuse and trafficking, the dangers are magnified. Today’s children suffer the most from drug abuse in more ways than one, however. It appears that the most unsuspecting demographic have fallen victim to the very pills meant to treat them.

Prescription Drug Abuse Is A Vicious Cycle

Whether you realize it or not, many prescription drugs today are classified in the same category by the DEA as street drugs. For example, Adderall is a Schedule II narcotic—the same category as cocaine. This means it holds a high potential for abuse and dependency. Similarly, prescription painkillers present the same risk.

Opiate pharmaceuticals were intended for moderate use in the medical community, but if you’ve been to a doctor recently then you may have noticed pills pushed on you at every turn. The addictiveness of painkillers is insidious and can produce a full-blown addiction if the user is not careful. Sadly, so many of these prescription pill addicts are parents to youth who end up neglected. Thus, the fact remains that children suffer the most from drug abuse in this way.

The Cycle Of Opiate Painkiller Addiction

Similar to heroin, opiate painkillers are infamous for their habit-forming properties. Prescriptions like Vicodin, Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone and Percocet all contain synthetically derived opioids. Long story short, this means that these drugs are manufactured to mimic the effects of heroin. The euphoria, numbness and high produced by prescription painkillers develops physical and mental addiction in the same way as heroin.

When the body receives an opiate or opioid drug, the substance interacts with the brain’s “opioid receptors.” A number of things then occur:

1.    Dopamine is released, making the person feel high.

2.    The brain shuts off its own production of natural painkillers (called “endorphins”) and the cycle of withdrawal begins. Cessation of an opiate or opioid makes the person feel sick, uncomfortable and achy.

3.    The body becomes gradually more and more tolerant to increasing levels of the pharmaceutical. The interplay of endorphin shut-off and physical tolerance makes a deadly combination.

Why Children Are Left Neglected

For many states, the issue of drug abuse and prescription pill addiction is old news. Fortunately, many parts of the country have strong programs implemented with the hope of turning things around. Where we lack, however, is in the resources for the American children who lose their parents to such devastating circumstances.

In states like Florida, for example, where war has been declared on the prescription drug epidemic, the fact that children suffer the most from drug abuse is seen loud and clear. By shutting down “pill mill” doctors and making arrests, law enforcement hopes to put a dent in the child abuse and neglect cases—80% of which are related to prescription drug problems.

Different Narconon locations across the country have heard story after story about the negative effects that drugs cause to children. A child with a parent in the home with a drug problem can develop major issues that will affect him his entire life. In addition, the more a child is neglected and exposed to drugs, the greater the chance he or she may use drugs themselves.

All of it adds up to major destruction for everyone involved. To get help for someone addicted or to find out information on Narconon locations, contact us today.

Source: http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20120831/MCT/308319290/0/search