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Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
(The newest battle against addiction) Arkansas has the worst teen prescription pain reliever abuse problem in the entire United States. (SAMHSA, 2007, as reported in ONDCP Teens and Prescription Drugs report, Feb. 2007)
Why Do Kids Abuse Prescription Drugs? • Among the reasons teens report use of drugs were: o To deal with the pressures and stress of school (73%) o To feel better about themselves (65%) o To look cool (65%) o To deal with problems at home (55%) o Being high feels good (40%) o Drugs are fun (26%) (Partnership for a Drug Free America, Partnership Tracking Attitude Study, Teens 2007 Report, August, 2008) Still don’t understand? Take a minute to hear one teenager’s story. Here is the link: Ashley,17 If you are raising a Teen in today’s culture you had better educate yourself about teen prescription drug use before addiction attacks your family and loved ones. Below are some current facts you should know: Many parents are not aware of teen prescription drug abuse. Teens say their parents are not discussing these dangers with them, even though research shows that parental disapproval is a powerful way to keep teens from using drugs. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Studies reveal that more teens are trying prescription medications in order to “get high” than marijuana. Every day, 2,500 youths (age 12 to 17) abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time. Among teens who have abused painkillers, nearly one-fifth (18%) used them at least weekly in the past year. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Pain relievers such as Vicodin® and OxyContin®, stimulants such as Adderall® and Ritalin®, and tranquilizers such as Xanax® and Valium® are the prescription medications most frequently abused by teenagers. Partnership for a Drug-Free America Teens think that using prescription medications to manage stress or get high is safer than using street drugs. Prescription medications are more easily available to teens than illicit drugs such as cocaine or ecstasy. Teens obtain medications from the medicine cabinet at home, through friends, or at friends’ homes. (ONDCP) |
