Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. was in private practice for more than thirty years. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the states ...Read More
1. The Good News:
NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) reported an encouraging finding from a survey recently done on the issue of teenage drug abuse. The survey took 6 years to do and was reported in 2007. The results showed a 24 percent decline in the use of illicit drugs over the six years. Marijuana, methamphetamine, and amphetamines are the drugs that led the way in the decline in teenage usage. That is the good news.
2. The Bad News:
The bad news is really bad. Teenagers are using prescription medications at record levels according to Dr. Lloyd Johnston of the University of Michigan. Specifically, adolescents are using pain killers such as Oxycontin and Vicodin.
The problem is that these pain killers are being prescribed appropriately for patients in need of them. However, parents are storing these medications in places that are easily accessible to children in the household who take them and sell them at school and/or make use of them along with their friends.
It is really important for all families to lock their medicine cabinets or store their medications in some locked and unavailable place at home. In addition, once any drug is no longer necessary it is important to get rid of them rather than storing them.
There is nothing wrong with the use of these medications when they are used by the patient and as prescribed by the medical doctor. However, when used improperly by children and teens, they are dangerous because they are highly addictive and severely alter mood, thinking and judgment.
Other Concerns:
The survey found that youngsters attitudes towards MDMA (ecstasy) is becoming much more accepting. Even in grades 7 and 8 youngsters are reporting that they believe that ecstasy is harmless. The survey found that 12th graders are continuing to use ecstasy.
Another concern is the use of over the counter cough medicines by secondary school children. These medicines contain the chemical dextromethorphan that, when abused, causes youngsters to get "high." Misuse of these cough medicines are known to cause brain damage and death. Here, too, parents need to monitor the medicines they have at home and to carefully observe the behavior of their teenage children to see if there are any unusual shifts in behavior that could indicate a drug problem.
The fact is that "Over The Counter" does not mean Safe.
