Teens and Drug Abuse: Rx and OTC Medications
Turns out, parents talking to kids about drugs really does work. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America has released the findings from their 2008 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), which found that there is a major increase in the number of teens who have "learned a lot" about the risks of drugs from their parents. What's more, data are continuing to show notable, sustained declines in several drugs of abuse, particularly methamphetamine (down 25 percent over three years) and marijuana (down 30 percent over ten years). However, there is bad news, too, and it may hit closer to home: The 2008 PATS also revealed that teenagers are now more likely to abuse prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications than any illegal drugs.
The Partnership is raising a red flag about this "entrenched behavior" among teens, warning parents that they need to address the issue with their kids. Only 24 percent of teens reported that their parents talked with them about the dangers of prescription drug abuse or use of medications without a doctor's supervision, and only 18 percent of teens said their parents discussed the risks of abusing OTC cough medicine.
According to the 2008 PATS, about 20 percent of teens reported abusing a prescription medication at least once, while 7 percent reported abusing OTC cough medicine in the past year.
In fact, PATS found that 41 percent of teens mistakenly believe that abuse of medicines is less dangerous than abuse of illegal street drugs, and most reported that prescription drugs are easier to get than illegal drugs. They take them from parents' medicine cabinets, get them through other people's prescriptions, or buy them on the Internet. Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership, says that the strong declines in illegal use, combined with the news that teens are learning a lot about drugs and alcohol at home, underscore the power and influence of parents. He stresses that this type of risky behavior should be a big concern to parents, and they shouldn't miss an opportunity to discuss it with their kids.
The first step is to realize where there is potential for abuse. Although many prescription medications can be abused, the following three classes are most common:
The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides information about the dangers of abusing these drugs.
Another troubling sign noted by Partnership surveys is a significant change in teen motivation for drug use over the past ten years: Teens are using drugs more to relieve stress than to have fun. Three out of four teens (73 percent) reported that the number one reason for using drugs is to cope with school pressure. In the PATS 2007 Parent Report, only 7 percent of parents believed that teens might use drugs to deal with stress, clearly underestimating stress as a factor on their teens' decision to use drugs. Stay connected with your child and keep the lines of communication open. Learn about the sources of stress in your child's life, and be prepared to get him or her professional help, if necessary. Don't shy away from talking to your child about drugs--even if you're worried about a bit of illegal drug use in your own past. Educate yourself about the dangers of Rx and OTC drug abuse, and then make sure your child understands the dangers.
Take steps to prevent Rx abuse in your home by following these tips from the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign:
Safeguard all drugs at home. Monitor quantities and control access to all prescriptions in your home. Take note of how many pills are in a bottle or pill packet, and keep track of refills. If you find you have to refill medication more often than expected, there could be a real problem--someone may be taking your medication without your knowledge. Ask friends and family, especially grandparents, to safeguard their prescription drugs, too. Make sure they know about the risks, and encourage them to regularly monitor their own medicine cabinets.
Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider's advice and dosages. Make sure your teen also follows instructions for OTC products carefully. This includes taking the proper dosage and not using with other substances without a medical provider's approval. Teens should understand the danger of taking a prescription or OTC drug with street drugs or alcohol.
Be a good role model by following these rules with your own medicines. Examine your own behavior to ensure you set a good example. Avoid sharing your drugs, and always follow your medical provider's instructions.
Properly conceal and dispose of old or unused medicines in the trash. Unused prescription drugs should be hidden and thrown away in the trash. To prevent teens or others from taking them out of the trash, you can mix them with an undesirable substance (e.g., used coffee grounds or kitty litter) and put the mixture in an empty can or bag. Unless the directions say otherwise, do NOT flush medications down the drain or toilet, because the chemicals can pollute the water supply. Also, remove any personal, identifiable information from prescription bottles or pill packages before you throw them away.
Follow up with your teen's school administration to find out what they are doing to address issues of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse in schools.
Most important of all, talk to your teen about the dangers of abusing Rx and OTC drugs. These are powerful drugs that, when abused, can be just as dangerous as street drugs. Tell your teen the risks far outweigh any "benefits."
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