Teens And Prescription Drug Abuse: Facts Every Parent Must Know
If you are like a lot of parents, your fears of your teenager abusing drugs will conjure up images of them doing things like smoking marijuana or using some other illegal substance. However, these days, drugs are far more accessible and easy to hide. In fact, the drugs your teen could be using could easily be hiding out in your own medicine cabinet at home. Teens commonly abuse prescription drugs because they are easy to obtain, easy to hide, and even more socially acceptable now than they have ever been before. As a parent, there are a few facts you need to be aware of when it comes to teens and prescription drug abuse.
1. Many teenagers get prescription drugs from their own home. - There are some prescription drugs commonly abused by teens that are considered fairly normal medications for certain conditions. For example, if you suffer with anxiety, your doctor will probably prescribe you medication to calm your nerves, such as a form of benzodiazepine or antidepressant, or if you suffer a traumatic injury, you may be prescribed an opiate painkiller. these are the types of drugs that are common for teens to abuse, and sadly, many of them get their hands on these drugs right at home. For this reason, it is crucial that you keep any prescription medications under close watch in your house–even if it means you have to keep them locked up and hidden.
2. Prescription drug abuse is quite high among teens. - According to The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, drug abuse and misuse has risen 33 percent from what it was in 2008. Roughly one out of every four teenagers admit to abusing or misusing prescription drugs, which is an incredibly scary figure to face as a parent. Even scarier, about one-fourth of teens believe that prescription drugs are just a safer alternative to street drugs. If you have a teen in the house, it is crucial that you understand just how prevalent prescription drug abuse is among teens so you can be alert to problems.
3. Prescription drugs are easy to conceal. - Pills are easy to obtain because so many teenagers have access to their parents' and relatives' medications. These drugs commonly get passed around among friends at school and are easy to hide. Plus, these medications often do not create the same telltale indications of being under the influence like alcohol or other drugs. Therefore, a teen could easily use prescription drugs and stay completely under your radar.
If your teen is struggling with a drug abuse problem, then consider contacting a clinic like Bridgeway Recovery Services Inc.