The latest results from an annual study about prescription drug abuse among teens, conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free America, revealed some startling results. About 20 percent of teens reported participating in prescription drug abuse. About 20 percent of those reported abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers.

Painkiller, stimulant, sedative and tranquilizer medications were among the prescription drugs most frequently abused by teens, according to the study. Painkillers are most popular among younger teens, while stimulants are more popular among older teens, the study found. Girls are slightly more likely to engage in prescription drug abuse than boys.

There is perhaps a feeling of comfort and safety with the idea of using prescription medications, because the drugs do have legitimate users. It may not seem like a terrible thing to teens because prescription drugs are widely available in household medicine cabinets. For that reason, it may seem much better than heroin. However, opioids are used in painkillers just as in heroin, and kids need to know that.

Doctors prescribe medicine and dosage based on a person’s individual needs. Without a proper prescription and physician directions, it is not appropriate for anyone to take prescription drugs. Honest, open conversation is the best way to educate kids about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and probably at an earlier age than most parents would consider. Each day offers “teachable” moments to talk with kids about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and other substances, and encourage kids to ask questions.

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Not surprisingly, one of the leading teen drug use trends is abuse of prescription medication, including cough medicine and Ritalin. The numbers of teens reportedly abusing prescription medicines is more than the combined rates of teen abuse of crack/cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin. Adults have long been known to abuse prescription medication, even stealing and forging prescriptions to gain illegal access to the drugs. Thus, it is small wonder prescription meds have become a teen drug use trend.

Painkillers and antidepressants are among the most commonly abused substances. Painkillers have even been sold on the street at drastically increased prices for a number of years. Inhaling any chemical packaged in an aerosol can has also become a fast, cheap high for teens – and at alarmingly young ages. Inhalants and prescription drugs are particularly dangerous for young teens because of their ready availability around the house.

Standard drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana spiked in the 1970’s and are still popular today, though considerably less so. Parents should have honest, open conversations with young teens and pre-teens about the trends and why kids try them. This will not only potentially warn the teens off of destructive behavior, but also open open up a pathway of open, honest and constructive communication between parent and child. They may be more likely, therefore, to address questions about serious issues like drugs to their parent before their peers. This is a critical tool in the war on drugs. It starts at home. Research has repeatedly shown that learning about drugs and their dangers from parents cuts a child’s risk in half of trying to get high, having a drastic effect on the teen drug use trend.

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Teenagers value what their friends think, and they crave a sense of social belonging. Parents play an important role in shaping their teens’ outlook on the world, their self-confidence and their likelihood to fall into drug abuse. A recent survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed that the number one reason teens said they turn down offers to do drugs is that they don’t want to disappoint their parents.

Let kids know not only your expectations of them, but the possible repercussions of drug abuse. Don’t talk only about the punishment they will face, but also about the damage drug abuse causes to the body, mind, relationships, emotional state and life in general. Teens tend to respect someone who talks bluntly with them. It may mean facing difficult questions regarding the parents’ potential drug abuse in their life history. However, honest answers about the parents’ past choices and repercussions can paint a stark picture for teens of the dangers of drug abuse.

The good news is that alcohol and cigarette use among teens has declined slightly within the last couple years, as has methamphetamine and heroin abuse. Use of marijuana, the illegal drug most commonly abused by teens, fell dramatically within the last couple years. While abuse of the prescription drug Oxycontin fell slightly among seniors in high school, abuse of the drug among eighth-graders has more than doubled. Hallucinogens and ecstasy are both very popular drugs among this age group.

Source: NIDA Info Facts: High School and Youth Trends, http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html

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A person who reaches the age of 21 without ever having indulged in alcohol abuse is statistically proven to be far more likely to never succumb to the temptation. So how does a parent guide their youngster through the delicate, peer pressure-driven teen years on a course of sobriety?

First of all, parents may want to exercise some control over their teens’ peer group. The actions of friends have a significant effect on the teens’ actions. As far as parental actions are concerned, two things have been shown to be related to higher levels of drinking among adolescents. Those two things are: lack of support, monitoring and communication; and overly harsh and inconsistent discipline or hostility directed toward children. These are both significant predictors of alcohol-related problems among adolescents.

If it is too late to prevent a teen alcohol abuse problem, help may be sought through a variety of avenues. A drug rehab can offer tips on healthy ways to successfully fight alcoholic tendencies, as well as support throughout that journey. There are also support groups for parents of alcoholic teenagers.

A medical professional may also help assess any bodily harm done by heavy drinking thus far, and offer tips on how to transition into a healthier lifestyle and better behavior patterns. Therapists and psychologists may also be consulted for family therapy, group therapy or individual counseling. This can help work through a host of family and personal issues that may have contributed to the alcoholism.

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It is well-known that the majority of teenagers are easily influenced by peers. Thus, the right group of friends becomes all the more important. Teens who lead their friends down a path of drug abuse lead them down a dead-end road. Teen crack abuse is particularly dangerous because it is one of the most intensely addictive highs available. It causes users to quickly want more, facilitating the development of an intense, overpowering addiction. Because teenagers are still developing physically, emotionally and mentally, crack abuse can be even more dangerous for them.

Ongoing crack abuse can trigger or reveal previously dormant mental and emotional afflictions like schizophrenia, paranoia, depression, violent tendencies and even suicidal thoughts. Drugs like crack are particularly dangerous to teens because they have unpredictable effects on the body. The formula of the crack can be unpredictable as well; sometimes it is more potent, while other times it is diluted with filler material like sugar or baking soda. The teenage years are a roller coaster ride of emotions and hormones already, and crack exacerbates that.

There are some pretty clear signs indicating teen crack abuse:

• Insomnia
• Runny or bloody nose
• Seizures
• Restlessness
• Paranoia
• Lack of fatigue
• Extremely fast speech
• Hyperactivity
• Dilated eye pupils
• Drug-related items like small plastic baggies, mirrors, razor blades and spoons
• Growing disinterest in family activities and old friends
• New social circle
• Aggressiveness and hostility
• Depression and withdrawal
• Frequent requests for cash

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Fortunately, cocaine is one drug that has seen a decrease in popularity among teens. At its height of teen popularity in the 1970’s, cocaine disappeared for a while before reemerging stronger than ever on the teen drug scene in 1984. Teen cocaine abuse remained strong throughout the 1980’s and well into the 90’s. Unfortunately, the decline in teen cocaine abuse over the last 10 years or so has only brought an increase in other types of drugs.

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that can rapidly develop into a nasty, life-gripping habit. If you think your teen may be taking cocaine, watch for these signs (which may or may not definitely indicate a cocaine addiction):

• Red and bloodshot eyes.
• Runny nose and frequent sniffing.
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.
• Insomnia at night and sleeping a lot during the day.
• Sudden change in friends and groups within different ages.
• Sudden change in behaviors, like truancy, hostility or poor school performance.
• Frequent requests for money; theft and shoplifting.
• Withdrawal from old friends and the family; lack of interest in old activities.
• Depression, fatigue and careless about personal hygiene.

If you suspect teen cocaine abuse is a problem in your household or with a teen you know, don’t be afraid to gently and lovingly confront them. Encourage them to find help. Parents may even need to mandate that they find help, lest certain privileges be restricted or taken away altogether. Sometimes the immediate fear of loss may be the greatest impetus for a teen gripped by cocaine abuse. It can be difficult to gauge because, while parents usually know their child best, cocaine abuse often turns that child into a complete stranger. Parents may want to seek help from a teen drug rehab therapists, counselors, ministers or support groups for parents of teens abusing cocaine.

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