Facts on Prescription Drug Misuse

Heath Ledger, the Oscar-nominated Australian actor, best known for his role as a stoic, closeted cowboy in the 2005 film "Brokeback Mountain," died in 2008 at the age of 28 due to an accidental overdose of prescription medications including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills. According to the New York City medical examiner’s office, Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects oxycodone, hydrocodone, Valium® (diazepam), Restoril® and Euhypnos® (temazepam), Xanax® (alprazolam), and the over-the-counter antihistamine, doxylamine.¹

Justin, a 22-year-old student, was prescribed Vicodin® to treat a back injury. After his doctors became aware of his addiction to this medication, they stopped his prescription. However, Justin found another source for his addiction when a spam email advertising Vicodin® without a prescription landed in his inbox. At the peak of Justin’s addiction, he consumed 80 pills in a 24-hour period, all supplied by online pharmacies. Justin attempted to quit by attending a variety of rehabilitation programs over a two-year period. During a relapse on Christmas Day in 2006 at the age of 24, Justin overdosed on Vicodin®. In May 2008, Justin’s Law was passed by the Minnesota legislature. This law resulted in a tighter definition of a legal prescription, requiring a documented face-to-face evaluation by a physician in order to obtain prescription medication.²

Now meet Jay, a good high school student. His parents are unaware that he is attending high school while abusing prescription drugs. Jay started misusing prescription drugs at age 13, taking a variety of drugs including: Percocet®, OxyContin®, Xanax®, Vicodin®, Ritalin®, and Adderall®. At the age of 17, he enters rehabilitation.³