Twitter
Facebook
According to a study by The Partnership at www.drugfree.org, one in five teens, ages 12 to 17, say they have taken prescription medicine that was not prescribed for them. Access to prescription medicine is easy.
More than half of the teens in the study obtained prescription medicine from their own family medicine cabinet, known as “pharming.” Others obtain the medicine from a friend at a “pharm party” or from a relative.
Being a teen can be very stressful. Teens state that they turn to prescription drugs to help them “manage” or “regulate” their lives. They may use stimulant drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall to give them more energy and the ability to focus. They may use prescription pain relievers such as OxyContin and Vicodin, or tranquilizers such as Xanax or Ativan to cope with academic, social or emotional stress. They may self-medicate with a family member’s antidepressant, such as Prozac or Paxil, when they feel sad or anxious. They may use prescription amphetamines to lose weight or prescription steroids to bulk up.
It is not unusual to have one or more of these and many other powerful prescription medicines in the home.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as many as two in five teens believe prescription drugs are much safer than street drugs and see no harm in sharing them with friends.
Since these medicines have been prescribed by doctors, teens don’t think these types of medicines can harm them like street drugs. Most teens also report that their parents have never talked to them about the risks of taking prescription medicine not intended for them; discussions have been focused on street drugs like cocaine and marijuana.
Sadly, taking medicine prescribed for others has resulted in serious harm, including addiction and death.
Talk with your teens about the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-
counter medication, and safeguard prescription meds in the home. If no longer required, return the unused medication to your clinic pharmacy.
For more information on talking with teens, go to The Partnership at www.drugfree.org.
(Courtesy of 86th Medical Group Patient Safety)
