POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 77 thinking (or paranoia), irregular heartbeat, heart failure, seizures, or even death. If you take prescription stimulants or any other kind of medications, be sure to follow your doctor’s or other healthcare professional’s directions to avoid harmful or deadly side effects! STIMULANT MISUSE WHAT IS MISUSE OF STIMULANTS? Many people are surprised to find out they’re misusing prescription medications. They may take a little more than prescribed — or a little less. Or use an old prescription for a new condition — they may not realize it’s misuse, but it is. And it’s important to understand that any misuse can turn a safe prescription medication into a dangerous drug. Prescription stimulants may be taken safely under the care of a doctor or other healthcare professional. A doctor carefully chooses the type of medication and dosage for each patient's needs. Some of the things the doctor considers are the patient’s medical history and the type of condition being treated. The doctor will also consider other prescription medications being used. Not following the doctor’s directions is misuse and can be dangerous — even if it’s unintentional. If you misuse stimulants, which means not following the prescription instructions, you can increase your chance of side effects. Misuse may lead to serious physical effects such as dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, seizures or death. Some stimulants may also lead to serious behavioral effects such as hostility, and distorted thinking or feelings of paranoia. If you are prescribed medications, it’s your responsibility to know how to take them safely and properly. Double check with your parents and your doctor if you have any questions or if you just don’t feel right. WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MISUSE? Using your prescription medication for conditions other than the one for which it was prescribed. • Using a prescription medication without a doctor’s or other healthcare professional's supervision. • Increasing or decreasing the dosage or frequency without a doctor’s or other healthcare professional's permission. • Using your prescription medicine with other medications your doctor or other healthcare professional has told you to avoid. • Sharing your prescription medication with another person or taking someone else’s prescription medication. • Taking an over-the-counter cold medicine with a decongestant along with a prescription stimulant without consulting your doctor or other healthcare professional. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF MISUSE? Even when taken properly, prescription stimulants may cause side effects including loss of appetite, sleep loss, and increases in heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure. Since prescription stimulants affect the way the brain functions, misuse can cause serious effects in your body and affect your behavior: • Too large a dose (even once) can lead to dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, seizures and even death. • Large enough doses over a short period of time can lead to feelings of discomfort, hostility and distorted thinking or paranoia. • Continued overuse can lead to tolerance to the medication. HOW CAN MISUSE OF PRESCRIPTION STIMULANTS BE AVOIDED? Even if you accidentally misuse prescription stimulants, the physical effects and consequences can be the same. (...continued) (continued...)
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