Economy minister discusses economic cooperation with German minister    Saudi Crown Prince congratulates new Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi    At UNCTAD, Saudi Arabia affirms commitment to sustainable economic transformation    Saudi justice minister, Italian counterpart agree to enhance judicial cooperation    TGA: Autonomous vehicle service beneficiaries surpass 950 in Riyadh    103 million orders delivered in Saudi Arabia in 3Q 2025    Yapı Merkezi reaffirms its commitment to Saudi Arabia with the opening of its regional headquarters in Riyadh A new step in Turkish Saudi cooperation    OMODA 4 Media Preview: Shaping the future of mobility with media and users    Belgian resistance holds up €140 billion loan for Ukraine at EU summit    Trump says he's ending trade negotiations with Canada    EU, US impose new sanctions on Russia to force ceasefire in Ukraine    Egypt joins EU funding program Horizon Europe    Riyadh Season 2025 draws 1 million visitors in 13 days    Athar Festival 2025 opens in Riyadh with record attendance, new creative streams, and Saudi-first innovations    Qatar clinch 2026 World Cup berth with 2-1 win over UAE in Doha    'India's Picasso' is breaking auction records — enraging the Hindu right    D'Angelo, Grammy Awardwinning R&B singer, dead at 51    Splash unveils new winter collection featuring Maya Diab    India players refused handshakes, says Pakistan coach    Adolescence star Owen Cooper makes Emmys history at 15    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Saudi youth and the abuse of prescription drugs
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 05 - 2016

IT is sad that our media sometimes fails to shed light on disastrous practices that occur in our society. One of these practices is the abuse of prescription medications, such as Lyrica. Lyrica is a medication that is available in all pharmacies in the private and public sectors. It is widespread among youth in our society and is dispensed without prescription just like medication for headaches. In fact, it is sold on social media websites in broad daylight.
Lyrica should only be prescribed to individuals who suffer from severe nerve and spinal pain that is associated with drug use. A drug addict should be instructed to take this medicine based on certain doses set by his or her doctor. Any increase in doses can lead to doziness, hallucination, partial nerve paralysis and shortness of breath. High doses of Lyrica can kill brain cells and cause the early onset of Alzheimer.
The scary fact about Lyrica is that it causes the same effect as hashish for a person who does not suffer from any of the above symptoms, especially if taken in higher doses or mixed with other medications. This is why Lyrica is widely used by young people. However, its use has not been criminalized like the use of other drugs.
I have no idea what kind of procedures the concerned authorities apply for legalizing and dispensing medications that are known to have major and dangerous side effects. However, they should consider the case of Lyrica and ban its sale without prescription. Many students have complained that Lyrica is widely used in schools and universities. Families should be educated about the use of this medication to ensure that their sons and daughters do not become addicted to it.


Clic here to read the story from its source.