Ask the Experts

I am a father of three kids and am concerned that the new drug of choice is snorting Oxycodone and the like. Why is this so popular and what are the consequences and possibilities of long-term or even short-term complications?
- From Netkeeper1113

Oxycodone is a prescribed opiate medication that is very effective for pain relief. It is one of the more potent medications available. When it is snorted, its effect on the brain and body happen very quickly and much faster than if it were taken orally. These effects can vary from person to person but generally include feeling high, pain relief (both emotional and physical), and drowsiness. Short-term complications that can occur as a result of snorting Oxycodone include a greater likelihood of accidents and personal injuries. Long-term complications are numerous and can include addiction and medical problems such as damage to the nose (nasal passages) and liver. Overdoses with Oxycodone are possible and can result in coma and even death.

Parents often wonder where kids obtain Oxycodone; the answer is that most adolescents who use Oxycodone obtain it from their parents’ medicine cabinets, purses, or pill bottles. So, for any parent who has been prescribed controlled substances, it is critical that they keep their medications in a locked and secure place. Some teens have also purchased Oxycodone over the Internet, so parents should be aware of what their teens are doing online and any Internet purchases that they are making.

Find out where teens are getting prescription drugs.

My son is on Concerta for ADD and he is dyslexic, and not performing well academically; I just found out he has been using pot for about a year, and am devastated. How does pot use interact with the ADD meds? How can I make it clear to him that drug use is not helping his problems?
- From Blue Angel

Marijuana has been shown to affect learning dramatically. People who smoke marijuana in high school or college have lower GPAs and do not perform as well on standardized tests. Students with ADD, even if they don’t use drugs, are already at a disadvantage in school, so adding marijuana will only magnify their learning problems.

Marijuana can also directly interfere with the effectiveness of the ADD medications. By causing the body to metabolize the medications faster, marijuana can interfere with the medications in the brain. 

There are many ways to let your son know that using drugs is not acceptable and that it is not helping his school problems. One way is to sit down with him and show him some of the scientific data about how marijuana affects learning and school performance. Many times, teens underestimate the dangers of marijuana and by learning more about it, they can be convinced to stop using. Another way is for you and your son to meet with a healthcare professional or an addiction specialist to talk about how his drug use is affecting him. The important thing is to recognize that your son is going through a difficult time and that what he needs is a supportive, empathetic, and helpful parent.

Read more about how to listen and support your teen in difficult times.

Timothy Fong, M.D. is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry. He is also the co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program and the director of the UCLA Impulse Control Disorders Clinic.

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