LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
IMS JOB BANK IDPH alert
June 22, 2009
This week, the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center (ISPCC) identified an increase in the number of teens and young adults who were seen at hospitals in eastern Iowa for abuse or misuse of prescription pharmaceuticals used to treat ADHD. The ISPCC's Real Time Disease Detection (RTDD) surveillance system detected a notable increase in the number of cases in which patients had tremors, hypertension tachycardia, agitation and/or vomiting.
Seven patients became symptomatic from misusing or abusing prescription ADHD medications. Two patients intentionally misused the medications (i.e. to stay up studying) and five were abusing the medications in order to get high. The medications that were abused or misused were Adderall® (dextroamphetamine + amphetamine), Concerta® (methylphenidate), Ritalin LA® (methylphenidate), and Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine).
Four percent of respondents to the 2008 Iowa Youth Survey reported using prescription medications without a doctor's prescription. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported in 2009 that 6.4 percent of full time college students had used Adderall® non-medically within the past year. While many teenagers believe that experimenting with prescription medications is safer than experimenting with street drugs, the results of prescription drug abuse can be serious or even deadly.
The ISPCC is staffed with registered nurses and physicians who have specialty training in the management of poisonings, overdoses and adverse effects from misuse and abuse prescription pharmaceuticals. Treatment advice is available from the ISPCC 24 hours per day for both health care providers and the public at 1-800-222-1222.
For prescription drug abuse strategies for professionals, visit the IDPH Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment website at: www.idph.state.ia.us/bh/common/pdf/substance_abuse/script_abuse_june09.pdf