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HOT TOPIC: Prescription Drug Abuse
What is it? How can we prevent it?

     Prescription drug abuse is using prescription drugs in a way that hasn't been recommended by a doctor. It can be more dangerous than people think and it's just as illegal as taking street drugs. A number of national studies and published reports indicate that the intentional abuse of prescription drugs, such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives, to get high is a growing concern particularly among teens and young adults. Past year abuse of prescription pain killers now ranks second—only behind marijuana—as the Nation's most prevalent illegal drug problem.

Prevalence of Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

  • Three percent, or 840,000 teens ages 12 – 17, reported current abuse of prescription drugs in 2005, making this illegal drug category the second most abused next to marijuana. (NSDUH, 2006)

  • In 2005, 2.1 million teens abused prescription drugs. (NSDUH, 2006)

  • Teens ages 12 – 17 have the second – highest annual rates of prescription drug abuse after young adults (18 – 25). (SAMHSA, 2006)

  • Prescription drugs are the most commonly abused drug among 12 – 13 year- olds. (NSDUH, 2006)

  • In 2006, 16.2 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. (SAMHSA, 2009)

What drives prescription drug abuse?

       Surveys have shown a variety of reasons and misconceptions that drive teens to misuse prescription drugs, beyond just looking to get high. Many teens resort to abusing prescription drugs in search of relief for their anxiety, stress, pain, or sleep disturbances. Teens have also reported seeking prescription drugs to help with attention and concentration. Many teens falsely believe that the use of prescription medication is safer than other illegal drug use, even when taking medication not prescribed to them.

  • Teens admit to abusing prescription medicine for reasons other than getting high, including to relieve pain or anxiety, to sleep better, to experiment, to help with concentration or to increase alertness. (Boyd, McCabe, Cranford and Young, 2006)

  • When teens abuse prescription drugs, they often characterize their use of the drugs as “responsible,” “controlled” or “safe,” with the perception that the drugs are safer than street drugs. (Friedman, 2006)

  • Four out of 10 teens agree that prescription medicines are much safer to use than illegal drugs, even if they are not prescribed by a doctor. (PATS, 2006)

  • One-third of teens (31% or 7.3 million) believe there’s “nothing wrong” with using prescription medicines without a prescription once in a while. (PATS, 2006)

  • Nearly three out of 10 teens (29% or 6.8 million) believe prescription pain relievers—even if not prescribed by a doctor—are not addictive. (PATS, 2006)

How do teens acquire prescription drugs?

      Many teens report accessing prescription drugs from friends or family. Many times teens will take the drugs without others knowing. Prescription drugs are also being sold on the streets.

  • Nearly half (47%) of teens who use prescription drugs say they get them for free from a relative or friend. Ten percent say they buy pain relievers from a friend or relative, and another 10 percent say they took the drugs without asking. (NSDUH, 2006)

  • More than three in five (62% or 14.6 million) teens say prescription pain relievers are easy to get from parents’ medicine cabinets; half of teens (50% or 11.9 million) say they are easy to get through other people’s prescriptions; and more than half (52% or 12.3 million) say prescription pain relievers are “available everywhere.” (PATS, 2006)

  •  The majority of teens (56% or 13.4 million) agree that prescription drugs are easier to get than illegal drugs. (PATS, 2006)

  • 10.2% took from a friend or relative without asking (SAMHSA, 2006)

A crucial step toward protecting teens and preventing prescription drug abuse is properly storing and disposing of prescription drugs.

How should prescription drugs be disposed of?

      Presently, more and more pharmacies are participating in pharmaceutical take-back programs or community solid-waste programs which allow individuals to bring their unused medications to the pharmacy for proper disposal. Although this would be the preferred method of disposal, there are other safe options. The Office of National Drug Control Policy lists the following federal guidelines.

  •  Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.

  • Mix prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags; this will further ensure the drugs are not diverted.

  • Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs doing so.

  • Take advantage of community pharmaceutical take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal.

Additional Information
Preventing Teenage Abuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication
Signs of Abuse Related to Specific Substances
Ten Tips for Parents to Intervene with Kids Involved in Drug & Alcohol Use

References

Office of National Drug Control Policy. Prescription drug abuse prevention. Retrieved on September 24, 2009 from URL:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/prescr_drg_abuse.html

Partnership for a Drug-Free America, The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS). (2006) Retrieved September 24, 2009 from URL: http://www.drugfree.org/Files/Full_Teen_Report
http://www.drugfree.org/Parent/Resources/Key_Findings_of_PATS_Spanish

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2006
NSDUH, formerly the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Retrieved September 24, 2009 from URL.
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nhsda/2k3nsduh/2k3Results.htm
http://www.theantidrug.com/pdfs/TEENS_AND_PRESCRIPTION_DRUGS.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006) National survey on drug use and health (NSDUH): National Findings. Retrieved September 24, 2009 from URL: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k5NSDUH/2k5results.htm
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k4NSDUH/2k4results/2k4results.htm