Prescription Drug Abuse in Teens
Anually, 2,500 youth age 12 to 17 abuse a pain reliever for the first time. Teenagers believe prescription drugs are a “safe” way to get high because they are not street drugs. Prescription drugs are easily accessible and are often found in medicine cabinets at home or school. In 2006, 47.3% of youth abusing drugs reported they obtained prescription drugs for free from friends. Teens use prescription drugs to help them deal with depression, stress, anxiety, pain relief, and insomnia.
What are the dangers of prescription drugs?
· Pain relievers and depressants: breathing difficulty/impaired motor skills, judgment, and learning ability/death
· Stimulants: heart failure/seizure/hostility/paranoia
· Cough and cold remedies: nausea/blurred vision/coma/death.
Teens reported mixing prescription drugs and alcohol. This can leadto respiratory failure and death.
Signs of prescription drug abuse include:
SYMPTOMS: BEHAVIORS:
Constricted pupils Multiple refill requests
Personality changes Unfamiliar pills
Excessive energy Missing pills
Forgetfulness Poor school work
Lack of interest in appearance Loss of appetite
Slurred speech Irritability
Mood swings Flushed skin
Fatigue Extra cash or borrowing
Parents:
If you suspect your child is abusing prescription drugs, do not ignore this problem! Do not be afraid to talk to your child. Let him or her know you are there to help. Be honest and let your child know the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Set new rules, engage your child in social activities, and monitor behavior more carefully. Ask your child questions such as “Why, Where, Who, What, and When?” If you are comfortable, ask him or her why they are abusing drugs. This could be the first step towards a solution.
PREVENTION:
1. Safeguard medicines at home. Ask friends and family to do the same. This includes concealing medicine and monitoring levels of pills and cough/cold medicines.
2. Set clear rules about drug use. Be a good role model. Do not share drugs with your children or use incorrect doses of medicine.
3. Properly dispose of old medicine. Do not dump pills or other medicine down the drain as this can pollute the water supply.
Teens And Drug Abuse: An Analysis of Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat. 17 Oct. 2009
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact