Fallon Deatherage
News Editor
The Healthy Bengal Coalition hosted an Over-the-Counter Meds, Stimulants, and College Students seminar in an effort to bring to light the problems with the misuse of these substances and to educate on the their proper use.
Over-the-counter medicines provide accessible and affordable medical help which often makes them the first choice to treat minor medical issues.
The event’s speaker, Roger Hefflinger, a clinical associate professor in the College of Pharmacy, has been a practicing pharmacist for 29 years, and has observed problems with the use of over-the-counter medications.
“Our observation is the consumers of over-the-counter medications are really uneducated and my belief is that it is the job of the pharmacist to educate the consumer for efficacy of the desired product and for safety for the user,” Hefflinger said.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, long-term overuse of NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin can cause chronic interstitial nephritis, a type of kidney disease, which can eventually lead to kidney failure. It’s estimated that 3 percent of new kidney failure cases every year can be attributed to the overuse of NSAID pain relievers.
NSAIDs are not the only over-the-counter drugs that can cause damage when misused. Sleep aids and motion sickness medicines can cause long term damage to the heart, liver and kidneys when not used as directed. Misuse of dextromethorphan, and active ingredient in many cough medicines, can be addictive and cause bone and nerve damage as well as high blood pressure.
While Hefflinger wants to educate students on the importance of safely using over-the-counter medicines, it’s not the only drug misuse problem he has witnessed among college students.
“I have also observed the increase in usage of stimulant medications for ADHD and then the corresponding trend for diversion and abuse of these medications,” he said.
Prescription medications such as Adderall, which are used to treat ADHD, is a dextroamphetamine-amphetamine drug which heightens focus. When used by someone for whom it’s not prescribed, it can be dangerous and addictive. The FDA has linked misuse of the drug to cardiovascular problems, an increased risk of mental illness, and a high risk of drug dependence.
Prescription stimulants are not the only stimulants that can be abused. Easily accessible stimulants such as caffeine are also easily misused. The FDA recommends 400 milligrams per-day, about the equivalent of four cups of coffee, as a safe amount although some individuals may be more sensitive to the substance than others. When misused caffeine can cause headaches, insomnia, upset stomach, and in serious cases heart problems.
Students wanting to learn more about responsible use of over-the-counter medicines and stimulants can contact the ISU Wellness Center for more information.
