Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jul 2007
Source: International Herald-Tribune (International)
Copyright: International Herald Tribune 2007
Contact:  http://www.iht.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/212
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

GORE SON'S ARREST PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

CHICAGO: Drug abuse experts say the arrest of former Vice President 
Al Gore's son underscores the growing problem of prescription drug 
abuse among America's youth. College students use the stimulant 
Adderall, an attention deficit drug, to get a speedy high or pull all-nighters.

The other drugs police say they found in Al Gore III's possession -- 
marijuana, Xanax, Valium and Vicodin -- also are campus favorites, experts say.

"Al Gore's son is just like everyone else's," said Dr. Donald Misch, 
director of health services at Northwestern University in Evanston. 
"The only thing missing was the No. 1 abused drug, which is alcohol."

Students commonly pair pills with beer and cigarettes, experts say. 
They trade tips about the effects of prescription drugs on networking 
sites like Facebook and trade pills they have stolen from home 
medicine cabinets, ordered on the Internet or taken from friends with 
legitimate prescriptions.

Prescription drug abuse among 18- to 25-year-olds rose 17 percent 
from 2002 to 2005, according to the White House drug policy office. 
In 2004 and again in 2005, there were more new abusers of 
prescription drugs than new users of any illicit drug.  Today in 
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Young people mistakenly believe prescription drugs are safer than 
street drugs, doctors say. But accidental prescription drug deaths 
are rising and students who abuse pills are more likely to drive 
fast, binge-drink and engage in other dangerous behaviors.

The White House plans a national advertising campaign aimed at 
getting parents to clean out their medicine cabinets and lock up any 
prescription drugs they need, said deputy drug czar Scott Burns.

"We found in focus groups of young people across the country that in 
large measure they're getting the drugs from their own medicine 
cabinets and the Internet," Burns said. Some Web pharmacies deliver 
ordered drugs without legitimate prescriptions, but other sites steal 
credit card information and never fill orders, Burns said.

Nearly 60 percent of Americans who report abusing prescription drugs 
say they get them from friends or family, according to the 2006 
National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the largest survey on 
substance abuse in the country with about 70,000 participants.

According to another survey, the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and 
Health, there are 14.6 million current marijuana users and 6.4 
million prescription drug abusers, with most prescription drug 
abusers using painkillers such as Vicodin. Cocaine ranked third, with 
2.4 million current users.

The same survey found the annual average number of new abusers of 
prescription pain relievers was 2.4 million, edging out the 2.1 
million new users of marijuana.

Al Gore III, 24, was driving about 100 mph (160 kph) on the San Diego 
Freeway in California when he was pulled over Wednesday. He was 
arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing marijuana and 
prescription drugs. While a student at Harvard University, he was 
arrested in 2003 for marijuana possession.

Prosecutors in California said Thursday they have until Aug. 1 to 
decide whether to file charges against Gore's son.

Former Vice President Al Gore said Thursday his son is getting treatment.

"We're very happy that he's sought and is getting the treatment that 
he needs," Gore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" Thursday. "And beyond 
that, we appreciate the good wishes that have come our way."

The drugs police say they found when they searched the young Gore's 
car are commonly found on campus, according to experts.

Vicodin, a brand name for acetaminophen and hydrocodone, is a 
painkiller that works by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain; 
it can be addictive and can bring on a feeling of euphoria when 
abused. Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam) are both used to 
treat anxiety and can cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped 
suddenly; they produce feelings of relaxation or drowsiness.

Adderall (dextroamphetamine and amphetamine) is used to treat 
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and can cause sudden death 
or serious heart problems, especially if misused. Students crush and 
snort it to get a fast rush or swallow the pills to stay awake for a 
late night of studying.

Abuse of Adderall and other prescription stimulants is more common on 
college campuses than among young adults not attending college, experts say.

A study published in the medical journal Addiction in 2005 found that 
rates of abuse of prescription stimulants including Adderall were 
higher at northeastern colleges and schools with more competitive 
admission standards. About 4 percent of college students in that 
study reported non-medical use of prescription stimulants in the past year.

Al Gore III's arrest may raise awareness among parents, Misch said.

"This is an opportunity for people to understand this is happening in 
your household," he said. "These are your kids. The drug dealers 
they're going to are their doctors, their parents and their friends."

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On the Net:

Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov

How to find treatment: http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman