Grandparents Could Unknowingly Supply Teens with Drugs

One in four high school students in the U.S. admits to having taken a prescription drug without a prescription, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). What’s more, prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem among 12 to17 year-olds. The number of teens going into treatment for addiction to prescription drugs has increased by more than 300 percent.

Particularly alarming is that the majority of youth are getting these drugs from family and friends. Here are the startling statistics from the CDC:

·         70 percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them from family and friends.

·         68 percent of households do not properly secure their prescription medications.

·         Studies show that unmonitored kids are four times more likely to engage in substance abuse.

·         The distressed employment market makes it harder for teens to find summer jobs, leading to more boredom, restlessness and free time.

·         A new study surveyed 2,500 high schoolers and reported that one in four admitted to abusing prescription drugs.

Tips for grandparents:

·         Safeguard all medicines by monitoring quantities and controlling access. Remove drugs from your medicine cabinet and lock them up.

·         Warn youngsters that prescription drugs can be just as dangerous, addictive, and lethal as street drugs. Studies show that teens dangerously view prescription drugs as "safer" to abuse than illicit drugs.

·         Properly dispose of old or expired medicines in the trash. Hide or mix them with cat litter or coffee grounds before throwing them away. Look for a drug disposal area in your area or a Mission Medicine event, sponsored by a Home Instead Senior Care office.

Lock Your Meds is the new national campaign from the National Family Partnership (NFP) to inform families that they are frequently the "unintentional suppliers" of prescription medications being abused by young people.

Grandparents can learn more about preventing prescription drug abuse at home this summer by downloading the MEDucation Kit from Lock Your Meds. The comprehensive kit teaches grandparents lessons about the problems of abuse and the solutions available for families.

To learn more about Lock Your Meds go to http://www.nfp.org/default.asp?PageNum=588.