Drug Court

People in recovery must be especially careful when taking any kind of over the counter (OTC) or prescription medications.

BE AWARE: 

• Prescription medication should only be taken when prescribed by your doctor/healthcare provider
• You must have the doctor complete the Prescription Doctor Form provided to you. Your physicians and pharmacist must be made aware of your present status and that you are routinely being screened for the presence of prohibited substances. When seeing your doctor, have a copy of the “letter to my doctor” indicating you are unable to take mood altering medications on a regular basis. This is important each time you see a new doctor and even in emergency cases; so obtain several copies for use during the program.
• Many OTC medications contain alcohol or other ingredients that could endanger your sobriety by triggering a relapse, or cause you to test positive on a drug screen.
• You must read labels/ingredients to check if the medicine is on this Do Not Take list.
• Use caution in using any kind of medication. If you have concerns about medications and OTC products that are not listed in this guide, contact the drug court coordinator.
• Avoid OTC meds that contain alcohol. Read the label.
• Most OTC meds for minor problems are safe. These include topical analgesics, anti-itch, and antibiotic creams, hemorrhoid preparations, antacids, meds for diarrhea and nausea, and throat lozenges.
• Use caution with laxatives and nasal sprays. Overuse can cause physical dependence. They should be used for occasional use only.

Alcohol

• Mouthwashes contain alcohol and are frequently abused by alcoholics. Look for alcohol-free alternatives.
• See the Incidental Alcohol Exposure Contract

Cold/Allergy & Allergy/Hay Fever Medications

• These meds may be a danger to many. Choose non-drowsy type meds.
• Do not take medications containing Phenylephrine, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), Dextromethorphan (DM), or alcohol.
• Check labels carefully to ensure that none of these products are in any medication you take.

Sleep Medications

• Please note: Many medications that use the phrase “sleep, or “PM,” contain Diphenhydramine as its sleep aid. You must avoid these, unless approved by your physician.
• Medications for sleep should only be prescribed by your physician.

Pain Medications

• Pain meds are tricky for people in recovery. Most OTC pain relievers are fine. There are times when you must have stronger pain meds, such as narcotics, after surgery or a severe injury. If narcotics are necessary and taken only as prescribed, this is not considered a relapse. It is normal for this to cause anxiety in recovering people, so it is recommended that they prepare themselves before surgery with extra recovery support and pre-planning regarding pain relief. You should not handle the pain meds yourself. Someone close to you should keep the med and give only as directed during recuperation time. Any leftover pain meds should be discarded as soon as possible. Your health care providers need to be aware of the situation.

Supplements/ Weight Loss

• Do not take herbal supplements and teas, diet aids, muscle building substances, power/energy drinks, etc. while in the program.
• These substances contain chemicals that will cause a positive test on a drug screen for certain individuals.
• It is best to avoid weight loss products unless supervised by your physician and approved by the Court.

Muscle Relaxants

• Muscle relaxants, such as, Flexeril, Norflex, Robaxin, Skelaxin, should be limited to a short period of time, AND ALWAYS NOTED TO YOUR TREATMENT PROVIDER AND PROBATION OFFICER WHEN TAKEN.

Do Not Take Medications that include the following substances:

• Any prescription medication categorized as a narcotic and/or a controlled substance.
• Specifically, this includes alcohol, narcotics, stimulants, Sedatives/Anti-anxiety agents, psychedelics/hallucinogens, inhalants, or any other mood/mind altering agent. Most anti-depressant medications may be taken. You must ask your prescribing physician/pharmacist what type of medication you are being given!
• Do not take any medication, orally, injected, to be inhaled, or vaping product given to you by another individual.

 DO NOT TAKE ANY MEDICATION OR SUBSTANCE CONTAINING:

• ADHD – Adderall, Vyvanse
• Benzphetamine (Didrex)
• CBD
• DDMA energy supplement (Dimethylamylamine; also called: geranium extract)
• Delta Eight
• Dextromethorphan
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Doxylamine
• Ephedra (Ma Huang)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Kombacha Tea
• Opiates – Heroin, Morphine, Codeine, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Buprenorphine, Butorphanol, Dihydrocodeine, Diphenoxylate, Fentanyl(and derivatives), Meperidine, Tramadol
• Oxaprozin (Daypro)
• Phendimetrazine – prescription weight loss
• Phenibut
• Phenylephrine, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Phenylpropanolamine, Phentermine
• Poppy Seeds
• Promethazine (Phenergan)
• Psychedelics/Hallucinogens – Marijuana (THC), PCP, MDMA (Ecstasy), MDEA, K2, Spice, LSD, Ketamine
• Sedatives – Benzodiazepines (Valium, Versed, Librium, Ativan, Xanax, Halcion, Restoril, Klonopin), Ambien, Barbiturates (Phenobarbital, Secobarbital, Pentobarbital, Butabarbital), Chloral Hydrate, Meprobamate, Glutethamide, SOMA, Sonata, Lunesta
• Selegiline
• Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Bath Salts (synthetic cathinones)– come under many names, including, Flaka, Cloud9, Energy-1,Vanilla Sky, etc.
• Tianeptine
• Trazodone
• Vicks VapoInhaler