May 22, 2009
A Doctor's Advice
Prescription drug abuse among teens
BY DR. WILLIAM WOOTEN
A mother once brought her teenage son to me after she successfully resuscitated him from an accidental prescription narcotic overdose. Can you imagine the horror of doing mouth to mouth breathing on your child under any circumstances? She was terrified that he was going to die and had to do her best to remain calm while saving him at the same time.
Unfortunately, many teens are facing this same risk and some will die. Parents need to do their part to prevent adolescent prescription drug abuse.
Teens are finding prescription drugs wherever people they know keep them — and abusing them more than any illicit street drug except marijuana. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are readily available at home, at school and at family and friends’ houses. In fact, 70 percent of persons age 12 and older who abuse prescription painkillers say they get them from a relative or friend.
Teens are turning away from street drugs and using prescription drugs to get high.
Consider these facts: New users of prescription drugs have caught up with new users of marijuana. Next to marijuana, the most common illegal drugs teens are using to get high are prescription medications. Teens are abusing prescription drugs because they believe the myth that these drugs provide a medically safe high. Girls are more likely than boys to intentionally abuse prescription drugs to get high. Pain relievers such as OxyContin and Vicodin are the most commonly abused prescription drugs by teens. Adolescents are more likely than young adults to become dependent on prescription medication.
Parents can become part of the solution in preventing teen prescription drug abuse by monitoring the medicines they have at home, getting rid of unneeded medicines, and teaching their teens about the dangers of Rx abuse and substance abuse in general.
Take action: Safeguard your prescriptions
Yes, prescription drug abuse is a tough issue to address, but parents must be proactive in preventing what could be their teens’ next high. Teens who wouldn’t otherwise touch illicit drugs might abuse prescription drugs, believing the myth that these drugs provide a “safe” high. And not many parents are talking to them about it, even though teens report that parental disapproval is a powerful way to keep them away from drugs in general.
Talk to your kids about the dangers of alcohol and other drug abuse. Start the conversation early, around the age of eight, and continue this dialogue on a regular basis through the teen years. Let them know the risks far outweigh any potential benefits. Discuss your family rules and values. Be clear about the consequences they face if they disobey.
The opinions, advice and information contained herein are not intended to provide professional medical advice or treatment, but are merely responses to questions from unidentified persons without advantage of actual knowledge of specific facts, circumstances and history of such person; and therefore, all responses contained herein should serve only as a suggested guide or possible course of action based on the question. Responses provided herein cannot replace professional assessment a person may receive from a visit with a healthcare professional. Youth First, Inc. hereby disclaims any and all responsibility or liability, which may be asserted or claimed arising from or claim to have arisen from reliance upon opinions, advice or information disclosed herein.
A note about the ‘Health Page’
Each week the Message provides news, advice or commentary on matters related to health. Regular monthly features include columns by Dr. William Wooten of Evansville, “A Doctor’s Advice.” Health and communications professionals from St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville contribute a feature article each month.
A recent addition is a monthly column provided by counselors from Catholic Char-ities in the Diocese of Evansville, on the health of marital and family relationships. Occasional offerings are drawn from Hazelden materials. Hazelden is a private not-for-profit alcohol and drug addiction treatment center in Minnesota.
Rounding out the selections are occasional reports from Catholic News Service providing a Catholic perspective on reproduction, cloning, stem cell research and other issues in the news today. The “Health Page” is a regular feature of the Message, a unique service offering health and medical news from a Catholic perspective.