Prescription drug addiction is the new fix in town for teens. The family medicine cabinet has replaced the corner pusher as the source for drugs, but the dangers of prescription drug abuse are just as real as those for illegal drugs.
Prescription Drug Abuse: Alarming Stats
The latest statistics from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America on teen prescription drug abuse are quite alarming. In a recent survey:
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), prescription medicines are second only to marijuana when it comes to drug abuse by young people between the ages of 12 and 17. In an earlier study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, approximately 4.5 million teens admitted to taking Vicodin, OxyContin, Ritalin or Adderall for the purpose of getting high.
Attitudes, Associations and Access
Attitudes play an important role in teens' decisions to use and abuse prescription drugs. Many do not see any danger in using prescription drugs, believing that they are safe compared to drugs like cocaine and heroin. Association also plays a major role. In a survey conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, nearly half of 17-year-old respondents indicated that they have one or more friends who abuse prescription drugs. Likewise, close to half (46%) admitted to leaving home on school nights to hang out with their friends and sometimes even to indulge in alcohol and drugs with their peers.
Attitudes and associations are not as likely to influence teen prescription drug abuse without access. Nearly half of all teens get prescription drugs from friends or family members, and while teens may openly share prescription drugs with their peers, they often secretly abuse their parents' prescription drugs, according to SAMHSA. To accomplish this, they need not look very far.
It should also be noted that a number of teens have their own official supply of prescription medications, particularly teens who have been prescribed drugs such as Ritalin. Not only are they able to abuse such drugs at their leisure, but also they can take them to school and share them with friends.
The World Wide Web is also a place where teens can go to get a supply of prescription drugs. There are numerous online pharmacies, and some of them will sell prescription drugs illegally to anyone with a credit card, reports SAMHSA. These companies typically do not require the actual prescriptions for the drugs, which makes it possible for teens to get access to them.
"Trail Mix": The Latest Party Snack
Gone are the days when teens munched only on chips and pizza at parties. Popular junk food is now being supplemented by "trail mix," a combination of random prescription pills that is often contained in bowls or baggies. Such activity has altered the nature and scope of teen parties, many of which are now called "pharm parties" because of the supply of pharmaceuticals that are available for teen use.
Parental Awareness Is Key
As a parent, it is crucial to understand the prevalence of prescription drug abuse among teens. Because so many teenagers are able to gain access to prescription drugs from within their own homes, it is important to either closely monitor your existing supply or relocate these drugs to an area that is less accessible. SAMHSA also recommends that parents dispose of medicines that are old or have expired, become better acquainted with their teens' friends and their parents and monitor online activities and mail more closely.
Most important, parents would be wise to talk to their teens about prescription drugs, what they are to be used for and the dangers of abuse.
 | Kids have found a new place to get high: the family medicine cabinet. Teenage drug abuse and Pharm Parties where kids swap stolen pills are on the rise. |
 | Drug abuse among teenagers starts earlier and occurs with around one third of kids. While alcohol is still the drug of choice, meth and pharmaceuticals are becoming more popular. |
 | There are many causes of teenage drug abuse, including a lack of parental involvement, a lack of education on the dangers of drugs and an atmosphere of tolerance at schools. |
If you decide to drug test at home, there is a variety of drug test kits on the market. It can be hard to choose kit which will be reliable and accurate. |
Even as the number of kids using alcohol and illegal drugs dropped, the number of teens getting high with cough syrup abuse has been increasing. |
