According to The Partnership for a Drug Free America, one in five teens has abused prescription painkillers, tranquilizers or stimulants. Many teens turn to prescription drug abuse due to false sense of security. They think that the drugs are safe since a doctor prescribed them. However, they don't take the varying dosage amounts into account. Doctors take the age, gender, weight and symptoms of the patient into account when prescribing these drugs. Because teens don't have the training necessary to do this, overdose, abuse, extreme side effects and death are possible when teens abuse prescription drugs.
Causes
Teens turn to prescription drug abuse for a variety of reasons. Stress in school or at home is sometimes the cause. Peer pressure may play a part in the decision to take these drugs. Low self-esteem is common among teens addicted to prescription drugs. Some teens turn to prescription drug abuse to cope with an emotionally difficult time, such as a parent's divorce or the death of someone close.
Types
There are four main types of prescription drugs teens abuse: sedative, painkillers, stimulants and tranquilizers. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the most common of these are painkillers and stimulants. The age of the teen usually dictates the type of drug she is abusing. Younger teens tend to look for painkillers, while older teens tend to use stimulants.
Signs
The signs of prescription drug abuse in teens are similar to that of teens using alcohol. Any notice of these signs is a good reason to talk to your teen about prescription drug abuse. In some cases, a trip to the doctor may be in order. Falling grades are a fairly common sign. Teens that are using extremely high doses of medications may have a yellow tint to their skin or the whites of their eyes, caused by a weakened liver. Irritability, isolation and other mood swings are common.
Prevention/Solution
The best way to prevent teen prescription drug abuse is to use a two-pronged approach. First, talk to your teen about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Be sure to mention the fact that according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, abusing prescription drugs is almost the same as using heroin. The second part to this plan is to keep all prescription medications locked up. Purchasing a fire-proof safe and keeping the key with you at all times is one way to do this.
Helping an Addicted Teen
When you discover that a teen is addicted to prescription drugs, it is important to be supportive and not demeaning. It is all too easy to accuse and put the teen down. This is counterproductive. Instead, offer to get the child help and be there for her. Recovering from an addiction isn't easy for anyone, especially someone as young as a teen.
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