POLOKWANE – According to ER24 OTC medication used at “Fishbowl” parties is fast becoming a party favourite among learners in South Africa.
‘Silent addiction’ – type of addiction that can easily be hidden and it takes a long time for family or loved ones to realise that there is a problem.
“Parents are urged to pay close attention to their children to ensure that they are not abusing or addicted to OTC or prescription medication,” Amanda van Staden from Sanca Limpopo said.
According to ER24 and Sanca, many parents may be unaware that their children are raiding their medicine cabinets in order to take part in a Fishbowl party.
Fishbowl parties require everyone who attends the party to bring along medication which they throw into a bowl. Each person then has to ingest a handful of pills. During these parties, alcohol, cigarettes and illegal drugs are usually involved as well.
Some cough mixtures have also been abused by teenagers. According to Sanca, most painkillers and cold and cough medication contain codeine to suppress coughing along with other ingredients to relieve mild and moderate pain. “Codeine is from the opioid family, like heroin and morphine. If used as instructed it will benefit the person using it but if abused it could cause dependency and have harmful consequences,” Van Staden explained.
Signs that OTC medication is becoming a problem include the following:
• You use more medication than recommended for long periods of time.
• You use alcohol or other illegal drugs with OTC medication.
• You obtain medication illegally.
• You are unable to stop using the medication on your own.
• Your function is impaired, problematic and unmanageable due to medication-seeking behaviour.
“If it is suspected that you or a loved one is addicted to OTC or prescription medication, a medial professional should be consulted,” Limpopo ER24 Spokesperson, Chitra Bodasing, advised.
Sanca can be contacted at (015) 295 3700 or an e-mail can be sent to amanda@fnda.co.za or riette@fnda.co.za.
Their offices are located at 33 Kerk Street, Polokwane.
riana@nmgroup.co.za
