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According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately six million people in the United States are current users of psychotherapeutic drugs taken non-medically, roughly 2.5% of the population. Broken down into four categories, which include sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers, 4.4 million were abusing pain relievers such as Vicodin, OxyContin, Tylenol and more.

In a 2005 Monitoring the Future survey conducted by NIDA, Vicodin and OxyContin were the most popular prescriptions being abused, especially by high school students. The percentage of OxyContin use by 12th-graders in the U.S. increased from 4% in 2002 to 5.5% in 2005. Higher percentages were seen in Vicodin use in the same category of students, with 10.5% in 2003 before falling back to 9.5% in 2005.

"For teenagers nowadays, prescription drugs are becoming more of a problem than illicit street drugs," said Russell Bush, Medical Director for the Lapeer County Health Department. "We periodically have overdose and deaths in this county from prescription medication, or mixing of prescription medication with illicit drugs, and/or alcohol. Most of those tend to be older teenagers, or in their 20s and early 30s."

One of these deadly combinations that have been a problem recently in the Flint and Detroit areas is the mixing of fentanyl with street-sold heroin and cocaine. Known commercially as Actiq, Duragesic, and Sublimaze, this prescription drug is used to treat patients with severe pain, manage pain after surgery, and sometimes to treat people with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other pain relieving medication. When mixed with heroin or cocaine, the potency of the drug is amplified and can cause euphoria, drowsiness/respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, unconsciousness, coma, tolerance and addiction.

Health officials agree painkiller abuse in teenagers is growing at an alarming rate. Part of the reason why is the accessibility of such drugs.

"They can get it from the medicine cabinet from their parents," said Shirley Reardon, case manager for Lapeer County Community Mental Health who runs the Dual Diagnosis mental illness and drug/alcohol addiction program. "It's much more available. It's cheap on the street. I think you can go just about anywhere and get some pills."

It's not uncommon for older people to take painkillers to relieve aching, aging bodies. Medication can become abused if the elderly don't be careful.

"The older generation have more aches and pains anyway, and the pain medication is handed to them," Reardon said.

She believes part of the addiction comes from the doctors who keep handing out the medication, an issue Reardon hopes to address at a dinner later this year where CMH will educate primary care employers on the Dual Diagnosis program and the seriousness of the addiction.

But it's not the doctor's fault, per se, she added.

"They just can't ignore when people say they're in pain," Reardon said. "They can't not treat them."

Bush said that any medication that changes how one feels can become at least psychologically addicting, even though the medications are not labeled as being so because they are not chemically seen as being physically habit forming. Various treatments are available to fight the addiction mentality.

Support groups are a popular outlet to help those fighting addictions—and many are available locally. CMH offers the Family and Friends Support Network, a free and open meeting for family and friends of individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. This meets from 6-8 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month at the CMH building, located at 1570 Suncrest Drive in Lapeer. For more information, contact Beth Boyd, LLPC or Reardon at (810) 667-0500.

The Flint Area Narcotics Anonymous branch, which covers Genesee, Lapeer, Shiawassee and Tuscola counties, highlights many support groups, including those in the Lapeer, North Branch and Otter Lake areas. These groups offer 12-step programs where people can gather in a safe and anonymous matter.

"People are gathered together and give emotional support," said Nevin Simons, a substance abuse therapist in the Thumb area. "They can express what they're feeling and thinking, and understand what is confusing and so hard; the cravings and urges and lifestyle that plays into addiction."

The time it takes to fully beat the habit can vary for each individual depending on how serious the matter is. These can last from three to six months, to more than a year, Simons added.

For more information about Narcotics Anonymous, visit the Web at www.michigan-na.org/flint/, or contact their help line number at (810) 238-3636.

Other treatment options include Naltrexone, a medication that blocks the effects of pain relievers and is used to treat overdose and addiction. Detoxification is used in cases to relieve individuals of withdrawal symptoms while they adjust to being drug free.

While the issue doesn't look to be going away anytime soon, bringing awareness to the public can help alleviate the matter.

"Public awareness and public education would truly help the person who wants to seek help as the community gets more education on the widespread of the addiction and treatment, Simons said. "It is a disease and not a moral issue."

Jeff Hoard can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8127 or jeff.hoard@lapeergroup.com