Other Drugs

What is Drug Abuse?

Drug abuse is a desire to have and use large amounts of one or more substances. Most drugs of abuse can alter a person’s thinking and judgment, leading to health risks, including addiction, drugged driving and infectious disease. People of all ages, ethnicities, social groups, and genders can become a victim of drug abuse. It is a generic term for abuse of any drug, this list includes, but not limited to:

  • Legal, over-the-counter (ex: alcohol, nicotine)
  • Legal, prescription (ex: opioids such as oxycodone, methadone)
  • Chemical (ex: inhalants)
  • Illegal (ex: marijuana, heroin, cocaine, others)
Cheerful creative team is discussing their work

Content under development.  

Risk Factors

Common risk factors of prescription drug abuse include the following as provided by Cardinal Health and Generation Rx:

  • “Some prescription drugs can be extremely addicting.”
  • “About 100 Americans die every day from unintentional drug overdoses, mostly resulting from prescription drug abuse, equating to about one death every 15 minutes.”
  • “A growing campus culture of self-diagnosis and self-prescribing has the potential to cause negative health effects and lead to the dangers of prescription drug abuse.”
  • “Students who use prescription drugs non-medically have a significantly higher risk for drug abuse.”
  • "When you share your prescription medications with others, you could be liable if that person is harmed."
  • "Using medications like Vicodin®, Adderall®, or Xanax® that aren't prescribed for you is against federal and state laws."

Hints for ways to turn down medications

  • Use humor
  • Use or make-up a personal story as to why you avoid the non-medical use of prescription drugs
  • Mention alternatives you think would work better to achieve the desired effect of the drug
  • Don’t be afraid to be your own person and not follow what others may be doing.

Safety Precautions

It is imperative to follow the recommended safety precautions when using prescription drug to avoid abuse as provided by Cardinal Health and Generation Rx:  

  • “You are putting others at risk when you share your prescription drugs.”
  • “It is important to take your medications only as prescribed.”
  • “Keep your prescription drugs in a safe and secure place that is unknown to others.”
  • “Dispose of medications you no longer need.”

Faculty/Staff Information

Is it your time to quit smoking? Set yourself up for success with these services:

IMPACT Employee Assistance Program: BGSU employees and their families can take advantage of this complimentary service. For more information visit My Impact Solution. Use your BGSU account to login.

Medical Mutual Insurance’s SuperWell Quit Line: Employees and spouses who are covered on the health insurance plan are eligible to enroll. Click here for more information.

Student Information

Counseling Center: The Counseling Center offers individual screening for alcohol and other drug concerns, individual and group counseling, education, consultation and referral for BGSU students. These services are free to all students who come in on their own. To set up an appointment with the A.T.O.D. Prevention Specialist, Kate Hutson or ask questions please contact the Counseling Center at 419-372-2081.

Wood County Hospital: Smoking cessation classes are in two formats available, an individual program and a group program. This program uses a positive behavior change approach while giving special attention to developing a quitting strategy dealing with recovery symptoms, controlling weight, managing stress through relaxation, assertiveness techniques, and staying off cigarettes. Pre-registration is required for all programs. To register or for questions about scheduling programs and program fees, call 419-354-8887.

Complete Smoking Clean Air Policy (PDF)

Content under development.  

Updated: 02/13/2020 01:48PM