A division of the Saginaw County Youth Protection Council

Prescription Drug Abuse & Teens

Written by Marisa Eynon-Ezop Monday, 25 January 2010 10:54

Prescription Drug Abuse & Teens

Fact: More teens are abusing prescription drugs than any illicit drug, except marijuana.

Consider this:

• 1 in 5 teens (or 4.5 milliion) has abused prescription drugs.
• 1 in 3 teens report knowing someone who abuses prescription drugs.
• 1 in 3 teens surveyed says there is "nothing wrong" when using prescription drugs "every once in a while."

Every day, almost 2,500 teens abuse a prescription drug for the first time.

Prescription drugs are abused more than cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and methamphetamine combined.

The abuse of prescription drugs may be as close as the nearest medicine cabinet.

The majority of teens (8 out of 10) get prescription drugs from friends or relatives by stealing, buying or simply asking for them.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - Center for Substance Abuse Treatment