Part One of “Teens Abusing Rx Drugs” discussed facts about prescription drug abuse, the most common Rx medications that are abused and some of the side effects of prescription drug abuse. Part Two of “Teens Abusing Rx Drugs” talked about the signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse.

Now in Part Three of “Teens Abusing Rx Drugs” we are going to address what you can do to help your teenage son or daughter that is abusing prescription drugs. If you think your son or daughter is abusing prescription you must get help.

Statistics are pointing to more and more teenagers have abused prescription or over-the-counter medications than illegal drugs. Prescription drugs are easy to get. Most often teens are getting them from their home medicine cabinet or from friends, who are getting it from their medicine cabinets.

So what do you do to help your teen?

  • Talk to your kids about the effects of illegal drugs
  • Talk to your kids about the effects of abusing prescription medication
  • Talk to your kids about the dangers of abusing prescription medication

 

Remember almost 1 in 5 teens report abusing prescription medications to get high and
1 in 3 teens report having a close friend who abuses Rx pain medicine to get high.

Studies have shown that teens that learn about the dangers and risks of illegal and prescription drug abuse are about 50% less likely to use drugs than those who are not taught about the dangers.

What else can you do? If you suspect your teenager is abusing Rx medication:

  • Lock the medicine cabinet or move medicines that could be abused to a secure place
  • Avoid stockpiling medicine
  • Keep track of how much medicine is in each pill bottle in your medicine cabinet
  • Monitor your teen’s internet use
  • Watch for websites or emails that encourage abuse of prescription medication

 

The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggests you teach your teens the three R’s of Rx drug use:

Respect – the power of medicine and the value of using medicine properly
Risk – all medicine have risks as well as benefits. Risk dramatically increases when medicine is taken inappropriately.
Responsibility – take responsibility to learn how to take medicine safely

Prescription drug abuse is serious. It can lead to serious side effects and/or addiction.

Triumph Youth Services has trained and sensitive staff that have worked with troubled young men for years. We have been successful in working with teen boys that have substance abuse or substance addiction problems.

Please call us today. See what we can do to help your son.

Reference
http://www.talkaboutrx.org/not_worth_the_risk.jsp (NCPIE Partners with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to Prevent Teen Prescription Medicine Abuse)

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends