MONDAY, March 14, 2022 (HealthDay Information) — Taken accurately, prescribed drugs used to deal with attention-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD) might help teenagers and younger adults navigate their situation, however a brand new examine finds many are dying from overdosing on these drugs.
In 2019, benzodiazepines like Xanax and stimulants like Adderall accounted for greater than 700 and 900 overdose deaths, respectively, in america, based on the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
“In recent times, there was appreciable consideration dedicated to dangers of dependancy related to diverted or illicitly obtained benzodiazepines and stimulants,” mentioned senior researcher Dr. Mark Olfson. He’s a professor of psychiatry, medication and legislation at Columbia College Irving Medical Heart in New York Metropolis.
“The brand new examine serves as a reminder that prescription benzodiazepines and stimulants additionally pose overdose dangers to the sufferers who’re prescribed them,” Olfson mentioned.
Sadly, lots of the overdose deaths amongst teenagers and younger adults who had prescriptions for these medicine are intentional suicides, he added.
The upshot of the discovering? Docs and fogeys must be cautious about prescribing and having their youngsters take these medicine.
“Previous to prescribing benzodiazepines or stimulants to younger folks, physicians ought to assess the affected person’s self-injury danger and contemplate different therapy choices for youth who’ve substantial danger,” Olfson suggested.
“Dad and mom even have an vital function in stopping suicidal habits of their adolescent and younger grownup kids, particularly if the younger individual goes by way of a annoying interval,” he added. “This will contain mother and father paying attention to adjustments within the youth’s habits, listening to them, being supportive fairly than intrusive, taking suicidal threats severely, and serving to them to find skilled assist if essential.”
For the examine, Olfson and his colleagues collected information on privately insured youths aged 15 to 24 who have been seen in emergency rooms for overdosing on benzodiazepines or stimulants from 2016 by way of 2018. The investigators then recognized who amongst these sufferers had a physician’s prescription for these medicine.
The researchers discovered that 29% of the overdose deaths from benzodiazepines have been amongst youths who had a physician’s prescription for the drug within the month earlier than overdosing, as did 25% of those that died from an overdose of a stimulant.
Amongst those that overdosed on benzodiazepines, 42% had been given a prescription within the final six months, as did 39% of those that died from an overdose of a stimulant, the findings confirmed.
The researchers additionally discovered that those that deliberately overdosed on benzodiazepines and stimulants have been extra more likely to have current prescriptions for these medicine than these whose overdose was unintended.
The findings have been revealed on-line March 2 within the journal Pediatrics.
Pat Aussem is vp for client scientific content material improvement on the Partnership to Finish Habit in New York Metropolis. She mentioned, “This has been the deadliest 12 months on document, as we have skilled over 100,000 overdose deaths in our nation — the best it is ever been. Teenagers and younger adults have not been spared. Overdose deaths for 15- to 24-year-olds elevated between 2019 and 2020 by virtually 50%, and the speed of drug overdose deaths has been steadily growing.”
Having psychological well being issues is among the key danger elements for an overdose in younger folks, Aussem mentioned.
“Emotions of loneliness, isolation and anxiousness fueled by the pandemic have seemingly contributed to a way of hopelessness for a lot of,” she added. “Consuming alcohol and different medicine, in addition to misusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs, is usually a solution to cope or self-medicate.”
Docs want to teach mother and father and sufferers on not solely what the treatment is used for and directions for taking it, but in addition the misuse and overdose potential, in addition to the dangers of mixing it with different substances like alcohol or opioids, Aussem suggested.
“Counseling along with treatment might assist to encourage more healthy methods of considering and behaviors. Taking the time to actually perceive how the affected person is doing in follow-up visits is essential, as effectively,” she mentioned.
Additionally, america continues to be flooded with counterfeit drugs that appear like Xanax and Adderall, along with ache drugs like Vicodin and Percocet, Aussem mentioned.
“The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration studies that two out of each 5 drugs they’ve seized comprise a probably deadly dose of fentanyl,” she mentioned.
“Well being care suppliers can educate younger folks on the dangers of getting drugs from a pal or off the road as an alternative of or along with a legit pharmacy,” Aussem added.
“It is vital for fogeys and different caregivers to observe signs and report any important adjustments to the prescriber,” she careworn.
Extra data
For extra on psychological well being and medicines, head to the Partnership to Finish Habit.
SOURCES: Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, professor, psychiatry, medication and legislation, Columbia College Irving Medical Heart, New York Metropolis; Pat Aussem, LPC, vp, client scientific content material improvement, Partnership to Finish Habit, New York Metropolis; Pediatrics, March 2, 2022, on-line
