June 24, 2009 - 7:44pm
As an information professional who is prescribed anti-axiety and sleeping aids, and who lacks health insurance, I have visited this site for years as a guest, and watched it blossom with the recent web site upgrade (LOVE that tagcloud!). I am often questioned by friends and family about reliable sources for anything from Senate Bills under consideration, to literary criticism to music. Recently, a friend and concerned parent found a pill in her minor child's room. Unfortunately, as many of us know, "pharms" have become a big trend in schools. I know of a teenager who bought a "grab bag" at school for $10. You get a bag of pills and you take your chances. Fun, right?
He took one pill which turned out to be a mild opiate (the rest were uppers, including meth, and OTC laxatives, which thankfully he, by luck of the draw, did NOT take). One girl popped her whole bag at school and wound up in the hospital. The boy said it was the first time in years he didn't get yelled at for his disruptive behavior in class. (Obviously, if this is the case, he needs proper attention and supervised treatment for the problem). Back to my thanks. My friend needed to quickly find out what this pill was before confronting her child. Being able to identify by COLOR made the process quick and easy. It was an OTC med; turns out the kid didn't know this, and confessed to having bought it thinking it was something else. Still, my friend was able to open an honest and non-confrontational conversation with her child about these issues... and it started here. And she knows where to go when she needs to answer these questions (not sure if she gave her child this site... LOL!) I personally DID decide to teach the teenager, with whom I am closer, how to identify pills. If he ever decides to dabble in this again, and I hope he doesn't, I want him to be the kid who knows how to find out what's in that bag.
Anyway thank you, especially to the routine posters here who provide a safe, reliable, and for the most part judgement-free atmosphere for discussing medications. It is truly appreciated.
- Nell
June 24, 2009 - 8:35pm
#2
I think most kids do not know
I think most kids do not know how dangerous pills can be. So, I do not think showing the kid any site will cause the kid to do more prescription pills. I'm sure the op didn't show the kid this website to be a better shopper either. When the police officers came to my middle school to talk and to show us drugs they didn't do it to make us better shoppers and to make sure we got what we paid for. Knowledge is power. The point the op was making was to say thank you for all that helped her ID a pill. By her only knowing the color it may have taken some research. I found this site through a search engine and I'm fairly certain any kid could find it also.
June 24, 2009 - 8:42pm
#3
Most people realize that
Most people realize that there are many who use or attempt to use pharmer.org to verify their illegal drug purchases.
If I read correctly, the OP didn't introduce the minor to this site but rather the parent of the minor.
I don't think it would be a good idea to tell children that they can verify their drugs online since it will probably encourage them to obtain prescription drugs.
June 25, 2009 - 11:56am
#4
Knowledge is power?!?!
Of course children don't have a clue how dangerous prescription drugs can be. Neither do the majority of adults.
I suppose telling the kid the going price for a gram of black tar would be a positive influence too, huh? This quote from the OP really got me: ...if he ever decides to mess around with pills again, "i want him to be the one who knows how to find out what's in that bag." Are you kidding me?
htmom, with all due respect, having law enformcement come to your school and show you what a bag of cannabis looks like and what "pills" look like is alot different than coming to a site that goes into painstaking detail to identify pills.
Any kid could find a razor blade too; should we guide them to the self mutilation sites on the internet so they'll play it safe?
As for knowledge is power, children have NO NEED TO "IDENTIFY" NARCOTIC PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE.
Nancy Reagan would be ashamed htmom.
June 25, 2009 - 12:01am
#5
nancy now
instead of barbara feliks?
June 25, 2009 - 12:26am
#6
I kinda agree with Feliks on
I kinda agree with Feliks on this one. As a teen I will admit, I dabbled in some not-so-legal pills (not prescription ones...I hope this doesn't change people's opinion on me, but I think it helps to show the point). Anyway, all those sites out there that claim to be there to help save lives so kids know what they are taking are a big crock o' crapola. The only thing kids use those for is to rate pills and know that they are getting a good deal on what they are paying for. Kids don't use them to know what they are getting, and if they do they are only doing it to make sure they aren't getting ripped off. Kids also use the sites to know what to look for to buy. Those sites are also dangerous (and this one could be used the same way by a teen) just to find out what they can get messed up off of. When I was a young teen I had percocet prescribed to me. I never know that it could or was abused. Ya know how I found out? Online. If you read any of those sites, kids often say that they know what they have is dangerous, but they are going to take it anyway since they paid for it and for people to cross their fingers and hope that they post back tomorrow. Honestly though, if you read those sites they are just used for people to rate different types of pills, not for identification. I think a kid would use this site in the same way. I mean, look at how many idiots we see on this board saying they got fake pills or have 20-year-old meds but they are going to take them anyway because they want to make sure or want to get something for what they paid.
I dunno. I'm sure there may be some teens who might use a site like this one to make sure they don't take something dangerous, but in all honesty I think that most use them to find out what they can go look in their parent's medicine cabinet for.
June 25, 2009 - 12:31am
#7
right.More kids are going to
right.
More kids are going to misuse online pill identification than are going to use it to avoid taking harmful drugs...
the net result is negative...
June 25, 2009 - 11:54am
#8
Goat
Ok I'm busted. I got my Republican brides mixed up, so what? 
June 25, 2009 - 3:27pm
#9
My point was kids are gonna
My point was kids are gonna do what kids do. And with or without the op help of finding this site, the net is not that complex. No one is endorsing kids taking non-prescribed prescription pills. Come on. Most people think just because they are prescribed, they are safe. I'm sure this is the thought of kids. That was my point. There's no way to ensure kids are not going to use this site for what ever reasons. If it could possibly deterr any kid from taking something that could kill them, then knowledge is a good thing. Nancy would be proud of me, didn't do drugs. I got the message. htmom
June 25, 2009 - 8:25pm
#10
Nobody
said anyone was "endorsing" kids taking non-prescribed medicine.
No, there is no way to ensure that kids are/ aren't going to do anything. But there are steps you can take, and examples you can set to make it FAR LESS likely that they will engage in dangerous, irresponsible behavior.
Nacy would have told the kid "Just say no!" She wouldn't have said: If you're gonna buy dope, make sure it's authentic!
We can agree to disagree on this one htmom- I enjoy your posts, and it's evident you're very knowledgeable.
We simply belong to different schools of thought. For instance, when my daughter turns 13, I'm not going to rush to Wal-Mart and buy her condoms for her date with Johnny because "kids will be kids..." I will, however be cleaning my rifles when Johnny comes to pick her up for the date...
July 9, 2009 - 1:55am
#11
Desoxyn is a funny one.
Desoxyn is a funny one. Funny in that 99.99997% of folks, especially the media, don't know that the killer Meth can be prescribed by Joe Doctor; though rarely ever is. Its a Schedule II Medicine like Cocaine too, which the media don't know can be used in medicine.
July 9, 2009 - 10:38am
#12
Why does it have to be Desoxyn?
Could it have been Meth in a capsul made at home or any number of ADHD Drugs? Kids will find out whatever they want to know. You can go to the public library and find out what any substance is. I think you guys are being to harsh on the OP. Everybody does not think the same way. Honest right information is good for everybody. You will never make a kid or any other person behave a certain way. They will do what they want to do no matter what.
July 10, 2009 - 12:42am
#13
Is that what you think?
Thanks for letting me know. For the record, even though everybody does not think the same way, there are situations where the judgement of right/ wrong must be made. Should I go buy my 12 year old a .45 pistol because he saw G.I. Joe, and thought it was cool? According to your theory, it's fine, as long as I instruct him on proper cleaning, and how to clear a stovepipe jam....he's gonna get his hands on a gun sooner or later, right? While Then when he's 16, I can offer to host a drinking party for all of his friends. They can all DRIVE over to my house and get sloshed, as long as they give me their keys. Better they break the law and harm themselves under parental supervision, right? Spare me.
Of course you can go to any public library and obtain information on drugs. You CANNOT verify the purity, or presence of active ingredient of (in this case,) prescriptions medicine/ street drugs. Are you aware of the potential consequences of this reckless behavior?
What does "honest right information" as you say have to do with chldren buying narcotics at their school?
You may not be able to make someone behave a certain way, but you should NEVER stop trying to lead them in the right direction.
Adults of this mindset are facilitating trouble.
July 11, 2009 - 3:40pm
#14
Who made you the authority?
OK Dr. Spock, I mean FeliksD. You are making an apples to oranges comparision here. You are a close minded self rightous person and I don't think you are half as smart as you believe you are. I have teenage children. I know how they operate. In todays "information age" this one site is not going to faciliate anybody's ability to %?#$$ up anymore than they will %?#$$ up anyway. Making sure the information available is accurate and educating the kids about the dangers of messing around is ALL you can do. PERIOD. After that the kids will do what they decide. I don't see where the OP gave the child a "grab bag" anymore than a responsible parent would give a child a gun get real. All I am saying is this is a public forum and any information disseminated on it should be as accurte as possible. I guess you think it would be right to spread disinformation? You sir are not very smart. This is not a simple situation. This is a huge issue. Education and information is the only avenue that works to keep kids safe. Kids have thier own minds and make thier own choices. SO don't flame me with you smart a$$ and may I add stupid out of context comments I mean what does a drunken house party have to do with this thread. You are good most of the time and I like most of your post's but on this subject you don't know what you are talking about! To the original OP. You are right to educate the teen and try to help them make right choices. I am done!
July 11, 2009 - 8:35pm
#15
You just now
...noticed that I'm self-righteous?
I'm sorry, I know you probably really wanted one, but I can't really respond to your post. I found it hard to follow for several reasons...
P.S. Who is Dr. Spock? 
July 11, 2009 - 10:06pm
#16
The real Dr. Spock
I believe his Christian name was Benjamin . . . Dr. Spock wrote a ground-breaking book on child rearing. It was published just in time for the births of the first boomers and is to blame for all of the problems that we face today. Think about it, the absurd concept of credit-default derivatives can easily be traced to Dr. Spock's insistence upon the correct method of potty training. That is why our economy is in the toilet.
Q 
July 11, 2009 - 10:11pm
#17
HAH!
My god Q, my face hurts!
July 12, 2009 - 12:56am
#18
Well All Right!
That's what this thread needed, a little potty humor. Sorry about the Tic Douloureux Cat . . . hehehe.
Q
July 14, 2009 - 8:51am
#19
Proof has been provided!
"You just noticed noticed that I'm self-righteous?
I'm sorry, I know you probably really wanted one, but I can't really respond to your post. I found it hard to follow for several reasons...
P.S. Who is Dr. Spock? "
This response proves it..........
Not to rain on your parade, but Desoxyn in a "grab bag" at a high school? I highly doubt that...
Also, the neighborhood drug dealer could be putting anything in these bags...There is no way to know for sure what is contained in a capsule, tablet, patch, etc. unless it 1) comes from a pharmacy 2) is tested using equipment neither you nor I could afford.
By the way, by "showing" him this site, you contributed to the delinquency of a minor. He will now be even more assured when buying prescription drugs illegally, thinking as long as it checks out on Pharmer.org, it's safe to take.
How about telling him in no uncertain terms that you don't buy PILLS off the street.
Sorry, as everybody knows, I'm the Devils advocate.