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Teens Abusing Prescription and Over the Counter Medications - FamilyEducation.com

Studies show drug abuse among teens is declining, lending credence to the idea that talking to kids about these substances really does help. However, studies also show teens are now more likely to abuse prescription medications than illegal drugs.
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Posted by benji4
September 17, 2009 6:20 PM
Teens find their way out
Teens drug abuse is a growing and concerning issues. Prescription drug abuse by teens is on rise, now teens turn towards over the counter drugs as prescription drug abuse are monitored by parents who are aware of these problems. Most popular over the counter drugs are could and cold medicines, Cold medicines such as Robitussin, Nyquil, Vicks Formula 44, and Coricidin HBP Cough and Cold tablets contain a chemical called Dextromethorphan (DXM), which is found in more than 120 non-prescription cough and cold medications. Growing concerns about DXM have led to some store chains and drugstores restricting access to products containing DXM, and to limiting the amount that can be purchased at any one time. But more prompt actions are needed from both sides government and parents to have control over their teens.
Source: http://www.teendrugabuse.us/over_the_counter_drug_abuse.html
Posted by sweettart1
April 18, 2009 1:48 AM
Naive
It is so important to not be naive about our children. I am a biological mother of four with four step children whom I have raised or am raising for various reasons. One is due to the fact my husbands son at 13 almost killed himself with perscription drugs...accidently. He was doing weight lifting at school and the boys told him that if he took pain killers he would do more weight and not feel so sore later. I am a cronic pain patient who takes methadone because it doesn't make you loopy. He took them out of my purse one night and went to his mothers house for the rest of the week (we now have custody). He had stole drugs from her "locked bedroom" before we didn't know about. He didn't know methadone is an anti high and continued to take them. He had four and took two and put him self in a coma. My point is, children are getting them easily and sharing. We as parents need to trust, but remember, always double check. Even if we trust our kids, they don't have to know you looked through their bag. It's for there safety and the safety of other children. I have small babies and if he dropped one, it could kill my baby fast. Or if he gave one to someone and that child had a reaction it would kill that child. We now do random room checks any time a kid gets in trouble...very rare, but we have to. The ones I have raised from birth, I can read like a book, but I will never be naive again for their safety. I talk to my kids. The other mother never did...only punished. I talk even if they don't want to hear. I know someday they will thank me.
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