News

Mother Shares Tragic Story of Her Son’s Death by Prescription Drugs

Source: KTBC/FOX Austin | Posted on May 3, 2013

Liz Wiggins is a mother of three. She and her husband recently moved to Leander from the Woodlands area not long after the death of her youngest son David. Wiggins says David was a great kid. But when Wiggins and David’s dad split when he was just 13, she noticed… continue reading »

Liz Wiggins is a mother of three.

She and her husband recently moved to Leander from the Woodlands area not long after the death of her youngest son David. Wiggins says David was a great kid.

But when Wiggins and David’s dad split when he was just 13, she noticed a change.

He started running with the wrong crowd, committing crimes and smoking marijuana.

“We were talking to him about it being a gateway drug. And he was like ‘No mom, don’t worry. I’m not gonna do anything to hurt me.’ He admitted he was smoking pot and he liked it,” Wiggins said.

But with his high school graduation approaching, David did end up doing something very harmful…something that ended his life.

Becky Vance with The Partnership says new statistics show prescription drug abuse and misuse has increased 33 percent over the past five years.

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Prescription Drug Deaths: Bill Would Tighten Rules on Hydrocodone

Source: Los Angeles Times | Posted on March 20, 2013

Taking aim at “America’s most abused narcotic,” congressional lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday that would place tighter restrictions on the painkiller hydrocodone, which is a key contributor to the nation’s prescription drug death epidemic. The proposed law would place medications containing hydrocodone in the same category as OxyContin, another opiate-based painkiller… continue reading »

Taking aim at “America’s most abused narcotic,” congressional lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday that would place tighter restrictions on the painkiller hydrocodone, which is a key contributor to the nation’s prescription drug death epidemic. The proposed law would place medications containing hydrocodone in the same category as OxyContin, another opiate-based painkiller so potent and addictive that it is sometimes referred to as synthetic heroin. If enacted, patients would be able to get fewer hydrocodone pills at one time, and there would be more restrictions on refills. In addition, pharmacies would have to follow stricter procedures for handling and storing the drug. The restrictions follow those recommended by a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel in January.

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Be Cautious of Mind-altering Drugs for Kids: Doctors

Source: Reuters | Posted on March 14, 2013

Doctors warn about the ethical and medical implications of prescribing attention-boosting and mood-altering medications to healthy kids and teens, in a new statement from the American Academy of Neurology. Focusing on stimulants typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, researchers said the number of diagnoses and prescriptions… continue reading »

Doctors warn about the ethical and medical implications of prescribing attention-boosting and mood-altering medications to healthy kids and teens, in a new statement from the American Academy of Neurology. Focusing on stimulants typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, researchers said the number of diagnoses and prescriptions have risen dramatically over the past two decades. Young people with the disorder clearly benefit from treatment, but the medicines are increasingly being used by healthy youth who believe they will enhance their concentration and performance in school.

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FDA Action on Vicodin May Mean More Pain, Not Less Addiction or Overdose

Source: Time | Posted on January 31, 2013

Last week, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted to impose stricter controls on prescriptions for drugs like Vicodin, which contain the opioid pain reliever hydrocodone.  The new rules would ban prescribing of more than a month’s supply of hydrocodone-containing drugs and prevent refills without a new doctor… continue reading »

Last week, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel voted to impose stricter controls on prescriptions for drugs like Vicodin, which contain the opioid pain reliever hydrocodone.  The new rules would ban prescribing of more than a month’s supply of hydrocodone-containing drugs and prevent refills without a new doctor visit. Prescriptions would not be allowed to be phoned, faxed or emailed and physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners wouldn’t be permitted to prescribe the medications in the states in which they have limited prescribing powers.

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Helpful Links

Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do To Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

Posted on March 4, 2010

NCPIE along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and representatives from 15 nationally recognized prevention, health professional and child advocacy organizations, have launched the Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do to Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse toolkit. This new comprehensive online… continue reading »

NCPIE along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and representatives from 15 nationally recognized prevention, health professional and child advocacy organizations, have launched the Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do to Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse toolkit. This new comprehensive online resource, offers a complete workshop module to educate and equip teen influencers — parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, community and school-based healthcare providers and others — with credible information about teen prescription drug abuse and effective strategies to take action to help prevent it.

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Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator – sponsored by SAMHSA

Posted on February 2, 2010

Looking for drug treatment programs and alcohol abuse treatment programs? Find the right drug abuse treatment program or alcohol abuse treatment program with the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Looking for drug treatment programs and alcohol abuse treatment programs? Find the right drug abuse treatment program or alcohol abuse treatment program with the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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The Texas Youth Commission – A World of Prevention

Posted on February 2, 2010

A World of Prevention is a searchable directory of resources dedicated to the prevention of child and adolescent problems and the promotion of youth development in families, schools and communities. A World of Prevention offers links to online resources, including the best available prevention material, programs, research reports, articles and… continue reading »

A World of Prevention is a searchable directory of resources dedicated to the prevention of child and adolescent problems and the promotion of youth development in families, schools and communities. A World of Prevention offers links to online resources, including the best available prevention material, programs, research reports, articles and books.

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National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information

Posted on February 2, 2010

The SAMHSA Health Information Network (SHIN) includes the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) and the National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC). SHIN connects the behavioral health workforce and the general public to the latest information on the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders.

The SAMHSA Health Information Network (SHIN) includes the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) and the National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC). SHIN connects the behavioral health workforce and the general public to the latest information on the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders.

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Programs

Time To Act – An Intervention Guide

Time To Act – An Intervention Guide

Time To Act! helps parents who suspect or know their teen is experimenting with alcohol or drugs take the next steps to help their child.

Time to Talk

Time to Talk

Kids who report learning a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use. Time To Talk helps parents have frequent, positive conversations with their children.

The Parent Toolkit

The Parent Toolkit

Advice by age—from preschool to college age kids—to help parents connect, protect, or take action if teens are using drugs or drinking.

Not In My House – Prescription Drug Abuse

Not In My House – Prescription Drug Abuse

Every day, 2,500 teens use a prescription drug for the first time to get high. Learn how to protect your kids.

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Resources

The Partnership at Drugfree.org Attitude Tracking Study: 2011 Parents and Teens Full Report

Posted on May 2, 2012

On May 2, 2012 The Partnership at Drugfree.org released their 2011 Attitude Tracking Study. New data from the study show that marijuana use is becoming a more acceptable behavior among teens and heavy marijuana use is now at disturbingly high levels. Abuse of prescription medicine remains high but may be plateauing…. continue reading »

On May 2, 2012 The Partnership at Drugfree.org released their 2011 Attitude Tracking Study. New data from the study show that marijuana use is becoming a more acceptable behavior among teens and heavy marijuana use is now at disturbingly high levels. Abuse of prescription medicine remains high but may be plateauing. However, parents do not appear to be contributing to this decline. They are not more likely to communicate the risks of prescription medicine abuse to their kids, they are not safeguarding medicines, and they are increasingly misusing or abusing prescription medications themselves. Fifty-two percent of Hispanic youth report using illicit drugs in the past year (vs. 42 percent for African-American youth and 40 percent for Caucasian teens). They are also more likely than other teens to have used prescription medicine, Ecstasy or cocaine/crack to get high.

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Chart of Commonly Abused Drugs

Posted on March 3, 2010

Learn the facts to keep your teen safe. This guide/chart contains images, formal names and slang, how it is used, the dangers, signs of abuse and what you should know to keep your child safe.

Learn the facts to keep your teen safe. This guide/chart contains images, formal names and slang, how it is used, the dangers, signs of abuse and what you should know to keep your child safe.

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Download (English)

Treatment eBook – How to find the right help for your child with an alcohol or drug problem

Posted on February 16, 2010

Featured Content: What is substance abuse treatment? How do I find the right treatment for my child? How do I pay for treatment? How do I get my child to start treatment? What can I do to cope better?

Featured Content:

  • What is substance abuse treatment?
  • How do I find the right treatment for my child?
  • How do I pay for treatment?
  • How do I get my child to start treatment?
  • What can I do to cope better?

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Download (English)

The Office of National Drug Control Policy January e-Newsletter

Posted on January 27, 2010

The ONDCP Update, a new e-newsletter of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), will be produced monthly and is available on ONDCP’s Web site.

The ONDCP Update, a new e-newsletter of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), will be produced monthly and is available on ONDCP’s Web site.

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Download (English)

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