Often when discussing campus health, we focus on tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and sexual behavior. However, a recent review of accidental overdose deaths in the state of West Virginia shows that prescription drug abuse of opioid painkillers is a grave concern. 295 people died in West Virginia from accidental prescription overdoses in 2006, and use of these drugs without a prescription was most common for 18-24 year-olds. In addition, the 2008 Monitoring the Future Survey reveals that nationwide nearly 10% of high school seniors have used Vicodin and 4.7% have used Oxycontin (both opioid painkillers) for non-medical use in the past year. Campus health centers should warn students about the dangers of prescription drug overdose to themselves and others and strongly encourage them to only use the prescribed amount.
Source: Medical News Today
-posted by Chris Miller
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