Drug Use, Misuse, & Abuse

Directions:

1. Read each scenario
2. Decide if it represents drug use, misuse or abuse. Explain your reasoning.
3. Provide advice to the teens in the scenario.

Scenario 1

DeAndre is a varsity football player. He recently hurt his back making a tackle. He didn't want to have to miss practice or the upcoming game because of the pain, so his girlfriend Julie gave him some pain medicine she had left over from when she had her appendix out. DeAndre has been taking the pills before and after football practice.

Reflection Questions:

1. Was DeAndre's use of this drug proper use, misuse or abuse?

1. Why? Include support from the drug label and what you've learned in class.

1. What advice would you give DeAndre and Julie regarding prescription drug use?

Scenario 2

Deja has a terrible headache. She goes to the medicine cabinet to get some over-the-counter pain medication. While looking for the medicine, she sees her older brother's prescription painkiller medication from his injury last week.. Deja decides to take the prescription medication instead assuming it is probably stronger and will help faster. She follows the directions on the label (1 tablet every 4 hours as needed).

Reflection Questions:

1. Was Deja's use of this drug proper use, misuse or abuse?

1. Why? Include support from the prescription information and what you've learned in class.

1. What advice would you give Deja regarding prescription and over-the-counter drug use?

Scenario 3

Shana is 15 years old and is allergic to cats. Her doctor told her she could take the over-the-counter allergy medicine shown here as needed. Shana is going to be staying with her aunt one weekend, and her aunt has 2 cats. So Shana took 2 of the pills just before her mom drove her to her aunt's house to help prevent an allergy attack.

Reflection Questions:

1. Was Shana's use of this drug proper use, misuse or abuse?

1. Why? Include support from the drug label and what you've learned in class.

1. What advice would you give Shana regarding over-the-counter drug use?

Scenario 4

Camila has not been able to sleep. She thought it was just a phase, but it's lasted a couple days now and she's feeling exhausted. Camila decides to take an over-the-counter medication to help her sleep. Although the directions said to take two pills, Camila took three pills, thinking that an extra pill would help her sleep that much better.

Reflection Questions:

1. Was Camila's use of this drug proper use, misuse or abuse?

1. Why? Include support from the drug label and what you've learned in class.

1. What advice would you give Camila regarding over-the-counter drug use?

Scenario 5

On Sunday, Jerome had a sore throat and fever. On Monday he went to his regular doctor, who prescribed an antibiotic (Label 1). Jerome has been taking 2 pills each day, 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening. On Wednesday, Jerome had an upset stomach, so his dad took him to the grocery store where they bought an over-the-counter antacid (Label 2). Jerome took the antacid medicine that night and the next morning. By the next afternoon, the stomach ache was gone and so were his sore throat and fever, so Jerome stopped taking both medicines.

Reflection Questions:

1. Was Jerome's use of this drug proper use, misuse or abuse?

1. Why? Include support from the drug labels and what you've learned in class.

1. What advice would you give Jerome regarding prescription and over-the-counter drug use?

Scenario 6

Kenji has been under a great deal of stress lately. He is taking the SATs on Saturday and he has to do well to get into the college he wants to attend. On Friday, Kenji decides that he needs to relax a bit in order to do well on the test. He decides to take one of his mom's anxiety pills. The prescription says to take them twice a day, so Kenji decides to just take one to be safe.

Reflection Questions:

1. Was Kenji's use of this drug proper use, misuse or abuse?

1. Why? Include support from the prescription information and what you've learned in class.

1. What advice would you give Kenji regarding prescription drug use?