| The teenage years are times of major transition. | | | | healthy kids very sick, abusing or sharing them |
| Teenage offers an exciting, new, independent life | | | | could also land them in jail. |
| for many kids. They can be vulnerable to many | | | | Myth 3: Prescription drugs can be obtained from |
| risky behaviors such as abusing prescription drugs. | | | | street dealer |
| According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse | | | | One myth surrounding the prescription medication |
| (NIDA), about 1.9 million youth aged 12 to 17 | | | | abuse by teens is that they can obtain them |
| years abused prescription drugs in 2008. Abuse of | | | | from a street drug dealer. |
| these drugs is dangerous as well as illegal, but | | | | But it is very unfortunate that they are readily |
| many teens are not aware of the risks involved. | | | | available at their home in the medical cabinet. |
| Instead they are getting incorrect information | | | | They need not go to drug dealers with others |
| from their peers. | | | | prescription. Most of the teens get these drugs |
| Wrong Assumptions: | | | | from friends or relatives by buying or stealing. |
| There are many wrong assumptions in teens | | | | According to 2009 NIDA's Monitoring the Future |
| about the prescription drugs today. Some of the | | | | Survey, the vast majority, 66 percent of the |
| common myths surrounding teen prescription drug | | | | teens got these drugs from a friend or a relative. |
| abuse are: | | | | Myth 4: It is normal to take drugs once in a while |
| Myth 1: Prescription drugs are safer than illegal | | | | Teens sometimes perceive that taking |
| drugs | | | | prescription medication once in a while is normal. |
| Most of the teens think that drugs are safer than | | | | They believe that they will not get addicted if |
| illegal drugs as they are prescribed by doctors and | | | | they occasionally use these drugs. |
| their manufacture is regulated. They also believe | | | | But the truth is that most drug addictions start |
| that these drugs have fewer side effects | | | | during adolescence. Prescription medications are as |
| compared to illicit drugs. They fail to understand | | | | addictive as any other illicit street drugs. Risk of |
| that these drugs are safe only to treat a | | | | becoming addicted and developing substance |
| particular illness or condition. | | | | abuse problems will be significantly higher if they |
| The abuse of these drugs is as dangerous as | | | | experiment with these drugs during their teenage. |
| abusing other illegal substances. These drugs are | | | | Sometimes teenagers experimenting with drugs |
| very powerful medications which often have | | | | for the first time may have adverse reaction |
| dangerous side effects on brain and body. Just as | | | | from an accidental overdose. |
| any other illicit drug, they act on brain sites | | | | Myth 5: Every one is doing it |
| causing negative short and long-term health | | | | One of the reasons for teens getting addicted to |
| consequences and also death in some cases. | | | | these drugs is they think that everyone is abusing |
| Myth 2: It is legal to use prescription drugs | | | | them. Most of the teenagers get an impression |
| One of the common myths among the teens | | | | that many of their peers are abusing these drugs. |
| about these drugs is that they are legal to use as | | | | But in reality, a large number of teens are not |
| they get them from their family's medicine | | | | abusing these drugs. Only one in five teens admits |
| cabinet instead of a street dealer. | | | | to use prescription medication. And the vast |
| The fact is that abusing and sharing prescription | | | | majority are not abusing these drugs. |
| medications is illegal. These drugs are generally | | | | Understanding the myths surrounding the teen |
| considered as 'controlled substances'. The Federal | | | | prescription drug abuse can help parents, |
| Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act states that using | | | | teachers, friends and others concerned, intervene |
| these drugs without a doctor's prescription or | | | | early and keep the teens off the harmful |
| abusing someone else's prescription is against the | | | | prescription drug abuse. |
| law. Prescription medications, not only can make | | | | |