PotShot

Prescription drugs are often used by kids to get high
Stephen J. Pasierb | JSOnline | Sept. 9, 2006

A recent survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that increasing numbers of young people were prone to abuse alcohol along with several kinds of drugs, including prescription drugs, at parties and other social gatherings.

Worse yet, the study found that most parents had no clue about such activities, even those who were at home during many of these parties.

As parents open their eyes to this reality, they must also know that the intentional abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to get high has quickly established itself as a serious new tier of teen substance abuse, one that deserves great attention and their immediate action.

Amazingly, most kids know these drugs are easy to get, whether swiped from the home or a friend's medicine cabinet or bought via the Internet.

Few parents suspect that medications in their own home can be pilfered by young, curious, risk-taking teens.

This was certainly true for Linda Surks, who lost her son Jason to prescription drug abuse in 2003.

As a substance abuse prevention professional, Surks knew the warning signs to look for when it came to illicit drugs but not those associated with medicine abuse.

Jason, a pre-pharmacy college student, not only knew how to access information on prescription drugs online, he was able to purchase them with ease over the Internet.

Jason's death revealed a whole new world of danger that Surks and hundreds of parents like her never knew existed.

The 2005 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found that an alarming number of teens had a false sense of security about intentionally abusing prescription drugs.

In fact, nearly one in five teens across the United States reported non-medical use of prescription drugs, including pain relievers, stimulants and tranquilizers to get high.

About 6 million teens mistakenly believe that pain medications are not addictive. Nearly one-third of teens believe there is nothing wrong with the occasional abuse of such medications to get high and almost 40% think prescription drugs are safer than illegal substances such as marijuana, crack and heroin.

Today, when Surks speaks to parents throughout the country, her message is loud and clear: Parents might be naive to the dangers of prescription drug abuse, but they are not powerless to prevent this incredibly damaging behavior with otherwise good medicine.

Parents should start by educating themselves about medications that have potential for abuse, especially the ones in their own medicine cabinet.

Discuss with your kids that abusing medicine can be just as dangerous, addictive and even deadly as using "street drugs." Safeguard these medications by taking a regular inventory and keeping tabs on exact quantities. Dispose of ones that are no longer needed.

Communication between parents and their kids is the most effective tool when it comes to preventing your kids from abusing prescription drugs. Our research shows that young people who learn about the danger of substance abuse at home are up to 50% less likely to experiment.

Sadly, fewer than one-third of teens say they get this message from their parents.

Having frank discussions about drug and alcohol use is often awkward and uncomfortable, but in the end, may ultimately save your child's life.

Stephen J. Pasierb is president and CEO of Partnership for a Drug-Free America ( www.drugfree.org).
From the Sept. 10, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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