Pubdate: Mon, 25 Dec 2006 Source: Brownsville Herald, The (TX) Copyright: 2006 The Brownsville Herald Contact: http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/contact.php Website: http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1402 Author: Melissa Mcever MORE VALLEY TEENS GETTING HIGH ON MEDICATIONS More teenagers are using prescription medications and even over-the-counter drugs, like cough syrup, to get high, according to a new study. The Rio Grande Valley is no exception. A survey released last week from the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that the number of young teens abusing the prescription drug OxyContin has nearly doubled in the last four years, and slightly more teens are using the painkiller Vicodin. In addition, about 7 percent of 12th-graders reported abusing cough or cold medicines. That's about one in every 14, according to the survey. Although the percentage of teens using illicit drugs is much larger - -- 37 percent of 12th-graders reported illicit drug use in the last year -- the growing reliance on over-the-counter drugs and prescriptions is worrisome, local officials say. "Teenagers are definitely getting into the prescription stuff, in addition to other drugs," said Joe Gonzalez, executive director of the Rio Grande Valley Council Inc., which offers screenings and referrals for alcohol and drug treatment. "It's increasing, especially among the middle-school group." The council's records don't identify the number of clients addicted to prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Those cases are lumped into a few other categories like "other narcotics," Gonzalez said. However, he said, the council began seeing more cases about five years ago, and it's been a steady stream ever since. "There's a lot of peer influence (to try cough medicine)," he said. "It's something that draws them in to using other substances." Cough medicines generally contain the ingredient dextromethorphan, which in large doses can cause a euphoric feeling. It also causes dangerous side effects in high doses, such as rapid heartbeat, disorientation and hallucinations, according to information from Partnership for a Drug-Free America. More Valley teens also are getting hooked on prescription cough syrup that contains the narcotic codeine, said Rosie Cavazos, service coordinator for the New Vision detoxification program at Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital in San Benito. "I'm seeing a big increase in that now and in pain medication," Cavazos said. The program has an average of 20 to 30 patients a month, and about one-third are adolescents, she said. Several of those teens report taking prescription medication in addition to alcohol and other drugs, she said. "They say it's easy to get hold of. They can find it in the medicine cabinet," Cavazos said. "They'll even exchange with each other." Despite recent laws restricting access to cold and allergy medications containing ephedrine, local teens still report taking ephedrine to get high, said Ricardo Garza, acting executive director for the Palmer Drug Abuse Program in Brownsville. NyQuil, which has a high alcohol content, is another popular choice. The medications are all too accessible, Garza said. "They go into the pharmacy and steal it, or a teenager over 18 will buy it for them," he said. Medications containing narcotics, such as Vicodin or OxyContin, also are gaining ground among Valley teens, officials say, and it might be happening right under parents' noses. "Parents might not realize that those pain medications have narcotics. ... They need to know," Cavazos said. Cavazos suggested that parents monitor their medicine cabinets and throw out medicine they don't need. In addition, they should supervise children's prescription-medication use, she said. "They shouldn't take more than is prescribed or ask for more (refills) than is prescribed," Cavazos said. However, parents should keep in mind that the problem of illegal-drug use is much more widespread among Valley teens than prescription-drug use, Garza said. Parents should watch for signs of illicit-drug abuse as well, he said. "Marijuana and crack are still our number-one problems, and it keeps getting worse and worse," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine