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Legal Highs
Students are using prescription medicines to get high
The use of ‘fat burning’ drugs is also on the rise.
Updated at midday
ABOUT ONE IN every three students have used prescription medicines to ‘get high’, according to a yet-to-be-published drugs survey.
The Medical Independent has learned that the National Student Drugs Survey will show that 30% of students have abused prescription drugs.
Another 18% have used non-prescription medicines to get a similar high.
Niamh Cahill reports that about 6% reported using non-prescribed opioids, codeine and/or morphine, while almost 12% had used Xanax or zopiclone in the past 12 months. More than 13% had used diazepam D5 or D10 in the last year.
MDMA continues to be a popular drug among young people, with 44% of the 2,700 respondents admitting to taking it. Even more – 48% – have tried cannabis.
The authors also mentioned the prevalence of ‘fat-burning’ drugs and other medications taken for vanity purposes as particularly concerning.
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