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Gore Arrest Highlights Rx Drug Abuse
Former Vice President Al Gore said Thursday his son is getting treatment.
"We're very happy that he's sought and is getting the treatment that he needs," Gore said on CNN's "Larry King Live" Thursday. "And beyond that, we appreciate the good wishes that have come our way."
  This is a booking mug shot photo released by the Orange County Sheriffs Department of Al Gore III, 24, who was arrested early Wednesday, July 4, 2007 on suspicion of possessing marijuana and prescription drugs after deputies pulled him over for speeding, authorities said. (AP Photo/Orange County Sheriff's Dept.) (AP)  
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The drugs police say they found when they searched the young Gore's car are commonly found on campus, according to experts.
Vicodin, a brand name for acetaminophen and hydrocodone, is a painkiller that works by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain; it can be addictive and can bring on a feeling of euphoria when abused. Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam) are both used to treat anxiety and can cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped suddenly; they produce feelings of relaxation or drowsiness.
Adderall (dextroamphetamine and amphetamine) is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and can cause sudden death or serious heart problems, especially if misused. Students crush and snort it to get a fast rush or swallow the pills to stay awake for a late night of studying.
Abuse of Adderall and other prescription stimulants is more common on college campuses than among young adults not attending college, experts say.
Prosecutors said Thursday they have until Aug. 1 to decide whether to file charges against Gore's son.
A study published in the medical journal Addiction in 2005 found that rates of abuse of prescription stimulants including Adderall were higher at northeastern colleges and schools with more competitive admission standards. About 4 percent of college students in that study reported non-medical use of prescription stimulants in the past year.
Al Gore III's arrest may raise awareness among parents, Misch said.
"This is an opportunity for people to understand this is happening in your household," he said. "These are your kids. The drug dealers they're going to are their doctors, their parents and their friends."
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On the Net:
Office of National Drug Control Policy: http:/
How to find treatment: http:/
