What is in your medicine cabinet? A recent national study suggests that teens are more likely to use prescription medications to get high than illegal drugs. In fact, a growing trend among teens is hosting “pill parties,” where instead of bringing gifts, they arrive with medications found in their homes. Pain killers, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Loritab, and Percocet, are among the most popular drugs abused by high school students.
Many teens don't realize how highly addictive and dangerous prescription pain killers can be. Taking an controlled substance without a prescription is abuse. However, often teens do not just take the drugs, they go out of their way to make them more dangerous. Pills are being snorted for an instantaneous high. Teens crush up pills that have up to a 12 hour time release, so they can experience the entire opiate at once. After a short time of consistent use, they may notice withdrawal symptoms when they go without the pain killers. The body builds a dependence and eventually, won't feel normal without the pills, making addiction very common.
In additions to addiction, the risks associated with teen prescription drug abuse can include irreversible liver damage and accidental death by overdose. Pharmaceuticals taken without a prescription or a doctor's supervision can be just as dangerous as taking illicit drugs. Often teens are mixing pain killers with other drugs or accepting pills without knowing what they are taking. Plus, prescription pain killers taken with alcohol can quickly become a lethal combination.
Talk to your teen about the dangers of pain killer abuse. In order to discourage them from participating in this trend, it is important to keep all medications in a safe place. The medicine cabinet is a place that a teen will readily search if they are looking for drugs. Storing pain killers in a locked box or a safe is a more responsible option. If you suspect your teen is abusing prescription medications, seek professional help immediately.
