Prescription Drug Task Force

If you don’t really need to take it, Adderall side effects can be very serious, because it is technically an amphetamine, a dangerous type of drug for anyone to abuse.

Amphetamines, like Adderall or Dexedrine are often taken as performance enhancing drugs. This type of drug causes physical side effects, like dilation, redness, and hallucinations. Chemically, amphetamine abuse can lead to a reduced ability for the eye to focus. Dilation is perhaps the most dangerous of these side effects, as it increases the risk for acute angle-closure glaucoma, a very serious eye emergency that can result in blurred or loss of vision.

Although very rare, an overdose of Adderall can cause cardiac issues, stroke and death.

The most common side effects people experience when abusing Adderall are not life-threatening. That said, there other side effects that are dangerous and demand immediate medical attention.  Additional Information and Support

Combining with alcohol can make for an especially dangerous mix. Stimulants mask the alcohol’s depressant effects, increasing the risk for alcohol overdose or poisoning.

Old prescriptions left unsecured in the home can often be an easy source for someone thinking about abusing prescription medications and can pose danger to pets or children who may accidentally ingest them. They can also be confusing for elderly people who may have multiple prescriptions.

Throwing old pills in the trash is often not the safest way to dispose of old medication and flushing may contaminate the water supply. 

So how do you dispose of old medication safely? 

Your community may have permanent drug disposal boxes at the following locations:

• Police departments
• Pharmacies, including independent and chains
• Fire stations
• Hospitals
• Municipal buildings

"Armed with this information, we would try to seek a grant to try to specifically help these families and their parents so they can be reunited with these kids once they get the treatment they need," said Ellen Snelling of the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance.

It is estimated that 14 people die from an opioid drug overdose each and every day in our state, and Tampa Bay is ground zero for this deadly crisis. While Governor Rick Scott has declared a public health emergency and set aside millions of dollars to fight the opioid epidemic, is it enough? How did opioid addiction get so out of hand and what can be done about it?