serious health consequences, even death, especiallywhen combined with alcohol or other drugs.”

SO, WHAT IS HYDROCODONE?Hydrocodone is a powerful opioid (a pain

reliever acting on the central nervous system) forthe relief of moderate to severe pain. Hydrocodoneis formulated under a number of different brandnames, such as Vicodin®, Anexsia®, Lorcet®, andNorco®. Another well-known opioid isoxycodone, the generic name for the drugsOxycontin®, Percodan®, and Percocet®. Availableby prescription only, hydrocodone is similar inpotency to oral morphine (an analgesic derivedfrom poppies) and is in the same opioid drugclass as heroin. Opioids act by attaching tospecific proteins called opioid receptors foundin the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract,and can effectively change the way a person P

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FROM SCHOLASTIC AND THE SCIENTISTS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

There is great news from the latestMonitoring the Future (MTF) Study, asurvey that tracks teen drug use from yearto year: Overall drug abuse is down

among teens. Unfortunately, there’s some bad newstoo: Abuse of prescription drugs remains at highlevels. Of particular concern is the continued abuseof Vicodin®, whose principal ingredient ishydrocodone, with nearly one in ten high schoolseniors abusing Vicodin® in 2006.

Taken under the supervision of a doctor,hydrocodone can be helpful in relieving acute andchronic pain. Yet the risks of abuse and addictioncan be very real. As Nora D. Volkow, M.D.,Director of NIDA, points out: “Hydrocodone is apowerful pain medication, but when abused—usedwithout a prescription, from someone else’sprescription, or in a different form or dosage thanwhat a doctor would prescribe—it can lead to

The Lowdown on

HydrocodoneThe active ingredient in many prescription pain relievers such as Vicodin®

is a powerful drug—and dangerous when not used as prescribed.

NIDA6_INS2_Stu Mag 9/5/07 10:58 AM Page 2

PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTERA prescription is a doctor’s instructions to aparticular patient: Only this person can take thismedication, in this amount, for this length of time.When the medication is taken on purpose for anyother reason, by any other person, including thepatient, that is called abuse.

The followingcategories define anddescribe the kinds ofprescription drugsmost abused by teens.

Opioids, like Vicodin®

and OxyContin®, areprescribed to treat severe pain. Dangers when abused:

• Extremely addictive

• Can slow one’s breathing

• Particularly dangerous with alcohol

Benzodiazepines, like Xanax®, Valium®, andLibrium®, are central-nervous-system depressantsprescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions,and panic attacks. Dangers when abused:

• Addictive

• Can slow breathing and heartbeat, especially if combined with prescription pain medicines,certain over-the-counter cold and allergymedications, or alcohol

• Can lead to withdrawal and possible seizureswhen discontinued after prolonged use or high doses

Stimulants, like Ritalin® and Adderall®, areprescribed mainly for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dangers when abused:

• Addictive

• Can create extremely high body temperature

• Can cause seizures/irregular heartbeat

experiences pain. Additionally, opioids affectregions of the brain, including the nucleusaccumbens (a key structure in reward, motivation,and addiction), resulting in initial euphoria.

The high levels of Vicodin® abuse may belinked to its widespread availability—a fact thatbecomes even more troubling when considering thehealth risks of abusing hydrocodone and otherprescription drugs. (See the sidebar “Prescriptionfor Disaster.”) According to NIDA researcher SeanMcCabe and others, some of the leading sources forteens obtaining prescription opioids are familymembers and friends. Many people assume that if adrug is “legal” and prescribed by a doctor, it’s okayto use. But hydrocodone and other prescriptionmedicines can be as harmful as illicit street drugswhen abused or combined with alcohol or other

medications. (Visit www.scholastic.com/headsupfor information about the dangers of mixinghydrocodone with alcohol and other drugs.)

The steady decline in drug use noted in theMTF Study is encouraging. Teens are getting themessage about the dangers and seriousconsequences of drug abuse. But, unfortunately,the message may not be getting through as clearlywhen it comes to the abuse of hydrocodone andother prescription medications.

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Bad News

Good News/Bad NewsAbout Teen Drug Abuse

Good News

For additional information on prescription drug abuse and addiction, see:

www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/prescription/prescription.html

www.scholastic.com/headsup

FROM SCHOLASTIC AND THE SCIENTISTS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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From Monitoring the Future Study 2006

NIDA6_INS2_Stu Mag 9/5/07 10:58 AM Page 3

FROM SCHOLASTIC AND THE SCIENTISTS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Answer the questions below to test yourself on vocabulary and facts you learned in the article “The Lowdownon Hydrocodone.”

BONUS: Making Smart ChoicesThe article “The Lowdown on Hydrocodone” discusses the dangers associated with the abuse ofhydrocodone and other prescription drugs. If you’re faced with a situation involving the abuse ofprescription drugs, it’s important to make smart choices. Here are some things to remember:

• If you have a physical or emotional problem that you needhelp with, talk to a doctor, nurse, or school counselor.

• A doctor knows important specifics about each patientand can monitor progress when drugs are prescribed.

• It is illegal to use or sell medications prescribed forsomeone else.

Considering these facts, as well as those in the article “The Lowdown on Hydrocodone,” how might you respond to the following scenarios?

1. Your back hurts a little and a friend offers you a pill shegot from her mother’s medicine cabinet. “It’s for pain,”she says. “My mom used it after her surgery.” Youwonder, “Should I take it?”

2. You’re at a party and somebody offers you a prescription medication, saying “Don’t worry, it’slegal. Look at all the celebrities who are doing it.”

3. You’ve been prescribed a pain reliever by a doctor. You think, “If one pill every four hours isgood, wouldn’t three pills every four hours speed up my recovery?”

HEADS UP: WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

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VOCABULARYMatch each word in Column A to itsmeaning in Column B.

Column A

1. opioid

2. morphine

3. opioidreceptors

4. nucleusaccumbens

Column B

A. analgesic derivedfrom poppies

B. proteins found in thebrain, spinal cord, andgastrointestinal tract

C. pain reliever acting onthe central nervoussystem

D. key structure of thebrain involved inreward, motivation,and addiction

READING COMPREHENSION: Multiple ChoiceFill in the circle next to the correct answer for the multiple-choicequestions below.

1. Overall drug use amongteens isA minimal.B going up.C going down.D the same.

2. What prescription drug isabused by one out of tenhigh school seniors?A Valium®

B Librium®

C Ritalin®

D Vicodin®

3. As an opioid, hydrocodoneis in the same drug class asA Tylenol®.B heroin.C alcohol.D antihistamines.

4. Both opioids andbenzodiazepines can slow aperson’s breathing.A trueB false

5. Stimulants can lower aperson’s body temperature.A trueB false

NIDA6_INS2_Stu Mag 9/5/07 10:58 AM Page 4