New Government Report Shows That Prescription Drugs are an Emerging Threat to the Health of Youth

An analysis of recent trends on the emerging drug threat released this month by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, shows that teens are turning away from street drugs and using prescription drugs to get high.  It also reveals that, for the first time, there are just as many new abusers (12 and older) of prescription drugs as there are for marijuana. 

The report, Teens and Prescription Drugs, includes statistics from several sources such as the 2005 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health and provides imperative data regarding the emerging drug threat.  The analysis shows that prescription drugs are the most commonly abused drug among 12- to 13-year-olds and that teens are abusing prescription drugs because they believe the myth that these drugs provide a medically safe high. For instance, 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.  Moreover, 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.  

Also, 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.  And more than one-third of teens say they feel some pressure to abuse prescription drugs, and nine percent say using prescription drugs to get high is an important part of fitting in with their friends. 

The report also shows that the majority of teens get prescription drugs easily and for free, often from friends and relatives.  In addition, thirty-nine percent of 14- to 20-year-olds say it is easy to get prescription drugs online or by phone.  The analysis reveals that pain relievers such as OxyContin and Vicodin are the most commonly abused prescription drugs by teens followed by stimulants, tranquilizers and sedatives, and that girls are more likely than boys to intentionally abuse prescription drugs to get high.

The Role of Coordinated School Health Programs in Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse

As shown in Teens and Prescription Drugs, abusing prescription drugs for the first time before age 16 can lead to a greater risk of dependence later in life.  In 2004, more than 29 percent of teens in treatment were dependent on tranquilizers, sedatives, amphetamines and other stimulants, and, in the past year, nearly half (48%) of all emergency department (ED) visits resulting from dextromethorphan abuse were patients 12-20 years old. 

Schools have the unique opportunity to help reverse this trend by establishing policies and programs which promote healthy behaviors among youth.  Through the use of a Coordinated School Health Programs (CSHP) approach, which addresses health services, family and community involvement, and counseling, psychological, and social services, schools can help kids steer away from drug abuse and establish life-long healthy habits.   

For additional information, please contact:

Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
Phone: (800) 666–3332
Fax: (301) 519–5212

Source: “Teens and Prescription Drugs – An Analysis of Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat,” Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, February 2007.