Prescription drug abuse involves taking drugs prescribed to someone else or in dosages not recommended by the prescribing doctor. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this form of drug abuse is on the rise, especially among U.S. children and adolescents. Compared to illicit drugs like cocaine or heroin, prescription drugs may be easier for teens to access at school or at home in unlocked medicine cabinets.
Prevalence
Nearly 2 million 12- to 17-year-olds abused prescription medications in 2008, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. After tobacco products, alcohol and marijuana, prescription medicines were one of the most commonly abused drugs by teens. Children report using prescription drugs to get high, relieve pain or help them focus in school.
Gender and Age Differences
Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that teen boys more often report using prescription drugs to get high, whereas teen girls more often abuse drugs as a form of self-medication. Younger teens more often abuse painkillers, and older teens and college students prove more likely to abuse prescription stimulant medications, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
Types of Drugs Abused
An annual study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America found that teens most often abused prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives and stimulant medications. Adolescents may abuse prescription medicines because they perceive the medicines as safer than illicit drugs because a doctor prescribed them. Government surveys indicate that 11 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have used prescription pain relievers not prescribed for them, and 4 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds abused prescription stimulant medications.
Complications
Short- and long-term health problems can result from abusing prescription medicines during childhood. Children who abuse stimulants may experience racing heartbeats, high fevers and paranoia. Taking opioids can make teens drowsy, cause gastrointestinal problems and slow breathing. Downing sedatives, or depressants, without a prescription may lead to slurred speech, breathing and coordination problems, confusion and even seizures. Any of these medicines alter judgment, making it more likely a teen would engage in risky sexual behaviors or other drug or alcohol abuse, and in the long term, teens who abuse prescription medicines may find themselves physically dependent or addicted.
Prevention
To prevent prescription medication abuse in children, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America recommends that parents keep all prescription medicines hidden or out of teen's reach. When talking to teens about drug abuse, parents should also discuss prescription medicines and the importance of only taking medicines specifically for the prescribed person. Explain to teens that prescription medicines, when misused, are no safer than illicit drugs, and both forms of drug abuse may lead to addiction and health complications.
