College students are well known for being less than moderate in their drinking and drug abuse. Wild fraternity parties and drunken stunts are the stuff that jokes and Hollywood movies are based on. But Science Daily reports that the nonmedical use of prescription pain killers is the new signifier of drug abuse, not alcohol.

What the Experts Are Saying About College Students and Prescription Painkiller Addiction

Sean Esteban McCabe, Ph.D., M.S.W. of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is the author or the study described in Science Daily. He writes in the background information of the article that,

“Several studies have reported recent increases in the prescription rates of abusable medications in the United States, including stimulants, opioids and benzodiazepines. These increases are likely the result of many factors, including improved awareness regarding the signs and symptoms of several disorders, increased duration of treatment, availability of new medications and increased marketing. The increases in prescription rates have raised public health concerns because of the abuse potential of these medications and high prevalence rates of non-medical use, abuse and dependence, especially among young adults 18 to 24 years of age.”

He adds:

“Clearly, appropriate diagnosis, treatment and therapeutic monitoring of college students who are receiving abusable prescription medications is crucial, not only to improve clinical outcomes but also to help prevent the abuse of these medications within a population that is largely responsible for its own medication management. Finally, any efforts aimed at reducing non-medical use of prescription drugs will have to take into consideration that these drugs are highly effective and safe medications for most patients who use them as prescribed.”

Despite Having Been to College Myself…

I’m a little confused about the implications of this study. And concerned. Are they saying that increased painkiller prescriptions is directly translating into increased painkiller abuse among college students? What are the alternatives? Having a lot of people go about in pain?

But then, this is a problem that isn’t just happening among the collegiate set. There are more painkiller prescriptions across the board and, as a result, painkiller addictions are on the rise across the board as well. What to do about it is an ongoing problem.

To me, the significant issue raised by this study is that, unlike experimenting with alcohol, a college kid who binges on painkillers is more likely to die from the experience. I know that more than one college student has died as a result of alcohol abuse, use and addiction as well as a myriad of bad decisions that were made while under the influence. But a kid in college may have as little knowledge about the danger or potency of the pills they are taking as kids in high school but, unlike high school kids, may not have someone at home paying attention to their details, a stop gap measure that may save them from overdose and death.

If it’s the kids who are prescribed these pills who are later abusing them, then maybe this problem can be helped by the prescribing doctor taking the time to explain in detail how the pills work and how dangerous they can be. If the kids are selling their pills…. That’s another issue.

Anyone have any ideas?

When I was using drugs, the idea that I might be an addict was a source of great shame. I wasn’t ashamed that I used drugs; that wasn’t my problem at all. No, I was ashamed that I’d lost control of my use, that I couldn’t quit when I wanted to, that I couldn’t handle the withdrawals.

I also didn’t want to be like “them”, you know: addicts, junkies. I wasn’t that sick, was I?

My use was out of control for a long time before I got help. I thought about getting help - but I didn’t want to say to my family: I am addicted to pain pills, and I need treatment. No way did I want my friends, or my job to find out. What would they think of me? How could I face everyone?

I feared the stigma of having “addict” all over my medical records too. Many of us know how doctors treat patients who are “drug seeking,” and I imagined it would be a hundred times worse if I was an admitted addict.

So I suffered, and I suffered some more. Finally, the suffering was worse than the shame (but only very slightly) and I decided to call for help.

What Was It Like?

Amazing. And scary, but not shameful. In fact, the health care professionals I’ve worked with throughout my addiction recovery - from doctors to therapists to research coordinators - have been some of the most respectful, kind and empathetic people I’ve ever known. It was among these people that I first began to really understand that my addiction is a medical problem, not a moral problem.

By the time I decided to get help, I knew I wanted to try Suboxone treatment. This meant I needed a diagnosis of “opioid dependency,” which required meeting with a doctor. My doctor was an addiction specialist, and he was so non-judgmental that it was a relief just to talk to him.

The first appointment was just me answering a lot of questions about my drug use. That was the scary part, but it was also really eye-opening. The questions were like:

• What kinds of drugs are you using?
• How much?
• How often?
• Do you ever drive when you’re high? (That was a big slap upside the head for me, I’m sad to say.)
• Do you do anything illegal to get your drugs?
• Do you hide your use from others?
• Does your drug use effect your job? Your social life?

By the end of that interview it was abundantly clear to me that I was addicted to pain pills. It was also clear that I wasn’t being judged for my problem, no one was going to slap a scarlet A on my chest and expose my faults to the world. I was among people who both wanted to help me and had the means to do so. I made an appointment to come back in a couple of days for my first dose of Suboxone.

When I arrived for my “induction” (that’s what they call it when you start Suboxone treatment) I was in moderate withdrawals as I hadn’t used in about 30 hours. I felt pretty crappy indeed, but hopeful too.

My doctor told me how to put the pill under my tongue and let it dissolve. I started with half of an 8mg pill, and went to sit by myself in the lounge and read a magazine. The taste was bitter and I wasn’t used to holding anything under my tongue like that, but my word…that first dose of Suboxone was a revelation.

Within 20 minutes my nose stopped running, my legs weren’t aching, no yawning, no coughing, no stomach cramps. It was like this huge wave of relief washed through my body. By the time I took the other half of my dose and walked out of the doctor’s office, I felt normal.

All day long, I felt normal - by which I mean good. I felt like myself, a feeling I hadn’t experienced in a long while. I had no cravings. I didn’t feel euphorically high, but I was in a good mood.

I went to work that day, and the next, and the next. I was able to fulfill all my family obligations and I even had the energy and inclination to do fun stuff on the weekend. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough. And I didn’t have to tell anyone what I was doing unless I wanted to.

I remember feeling sorry that I’d waited so long to get help once I realized what getting help would be like. I’m not saying that I took Suboxone and lived happily ever after. But Suboxone has given me the stability to sort out the mess that I made of my life, and to work on healing my body and my spirit. It also reminded me of how good it feels to be clear-headed and in control - now I don’t want to risk losing those things ever again.

What About You?

So what are you waiting for? There really is no need to suffer more, or for your addiction to progress further before you make the call and ask for help. Believe me, if I could do it, so can you.

For parents, there are few things worse than discovering that their child is addicted to opiates. But there’s one thing that few parents realize: there are few things worse for your child to discover about him or herself as well. As the anti-drug commercials put it, “No one ever said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be a junkie,’” and for your child, finding themselves in the tortuous position of physical addiction can be terrifying. As the parent, you may be the only person who can really help him or her to get through this experience and come out on the other side a happier, more well-adjusted person. Here are some 5 tips to help you along the way.

Stay Calm

Fear often manifests in the form of anger, but this is a case when screaming and yelling will only serve to worsen the situation and your child’s feelings about him or herself. If you suspect that your child is using, be prepared for a volatile reaction when he or she is confronted. Their fear of getting caught and concern for their own physical safety will likely turn emotional. It is your job to take a breath, pursue the conversation and help them defuse so that you two can have a conversation that is productive and goal (not blame) oriented.

Ask Questions

Are you using every day? How much are you using? How do you feel when you don’t use? If you find opiate painkillers, ask how they are taking them (no need to offer multiple choice answers, but crushing and shooting the drug is significantly more dangerous than swallowing the pill whole and knowing the answer to this question will help you find the right drug rehab facility for them, even if they give you a sarcastic answer).

It’s not immediately important who they are using with, where they are getting the drugs or if they were high at such-and-such event. Pointing out addictive behavior like lying and stealing won’t serve your first purpose: helping your child accept the fact that he or she is addicted to opiates and needs drug treatment.

Listen

It may seem intuitive, but after you ask your questions, wait and listen to the answers. Bombarding your child with questions won’t yield anything but frustration. If you don’t understand the answer or feel like he or she is being indirect, you can always ask more questions later, but give your child a chance to speak his or her mind.

Offer Solution Options

Berating your child or handing down punishments isn’t appropriate at this time. Certainly, you want the addictive behavior and using to stop, but the best way for this to happen is to give them solutions: inpatient treatment, medical detox, outpatient treatment. Talk to them about what is available, and let them know that you will stand by them through it all.

Let Them Know That You Love Them No Matter What

This is crucial. Even though you may be scared to death, angry and overwhelmingly disappointed and sad, you must communicate to your child that you will be right there as the two of you work through this together. Let your child know that you love him or her and that you will make sure to provide the necessary help to get them back on their feet so that both of you can move forward.