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— Make Time to Listen; Take Time to Talk
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Make Time to Listen…Take Time to Talk about Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse is a fast-growing problem in our country, especially among young people. A 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that among all youths aged 12 to 17, 6% had tried prescription drugs for recreational use in the last month. Many teenagers think that because these medicines are prescribed by doctors, they aren't as harmful as illegal substances. But in fact prescription drugs can be just as addictive and dangerous as illegal drugs, and are much easier to obtain. The main thing you as a parent can do is inform your teen of the potential dangers these drugs can cause. Prescription drugs are very likely to cause addiction as well as harmful effects on the human body. These risks are tremendously increased if they are unknowingly mixed with any other medications. There is a reason why these drugs are prescribed only by doctors. Many of them can be addictive if their dosage is not monitored, and only the doctor will know what the reaction of medicine will be with other medications. Another thing that we must be sure of is that prescription drugs aren't readily available to your children. An example of this would be keeping pills on the counter or other central places that your teenager is likely to see often and become curious. It is also helpful to keep tabs on your prescriptions. If no one in your household is taking a medication anymore it can be thrown away. Prescription drugs are only safe for the person they are prescribed for and teenagers need to realize how dangerous just "popping a pill" can be.
