The most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found 1 in 5 U.S. teens has abused prescription drugs, including powerful medications such as OxyContin and Percocet.
"Some people may falsely believe that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs yet their misuse can cause serious adverse health effects, including addiction and death," said Howell Wechsler, director of the CDC's division of adolescent and school health. To read the full story click HERE.
On this same topic, another CDC report found that for the first time emergency room visits from the abuse of medicines have become as common as those from illegal drugs.
ERs in 2008 saw about 1 million visits from the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter medicines — mostly painkillers and sedatives. That was about the same number of visits from people overdosing on heroin, cocaine and other illegal drugs.
Health officials are not sure why painkiller abuse is increasing so dramatically, but the number of prescriptions has been increasing.
Prescription and over-the-counter meds are not to be taken lightly--or at all without cause and script from your doctor--just because they are technically legal substances. The same as you may lock up your gun, your weapons and your liquor from your kids, you should lock up your meds too!
For more information and tips on teens and prescription drug use visit THIS PAGE on the Partnership for a Drug-Free America website.
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