NCJ Number
217531
Date Published
February 2007
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This report analyzes the emerging threat and the current trends in the international abuse of prescription drugs among teens.
Abstract
Following the use of marijuana, the most common drug of abuse among teens is prescription medication and there is evidence that their parents are unaware of the problem. For the first time, new abusers of prescription medications have caught up with new users of marijuana among those 12 years and older. During 2005, an estimated 850,000 teens between the ages of 12 and 17 years started using prescription drugs in the 12 months prior to the survey compared with 1,139,000 new marijuana users. A total of 2.1 million teens abused prescription drugs during 2005. Prescription drugs are the most commonly abused drugs among 12- to 13-year-olds and girls are more likely than boys to use prescription drugs to get high. More teens report being offered prescription drugs than other illicit drugs. The majority of teens report obtaining prescription drugs easily and for free, typically from friends or relatives. Approximately 39 percent of 14- to 20-year-olds reported that it is easy to get prescription drugs online or by phone. Pain relievers, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, are the most commonly abused prescription drugs and nearly 3 out of 10 teens believe that prescription pain relievers are not addictive. Compared to adults, teens are more likely to become dependent on prescription medications. Teens who abuse prescription drugs often characterize their abuse as "responsible," "controlled," or "safe." Teens use prescription medications for reasons other than recreation, including pain or anxiety relief, sleep, and increased alertness. During 2004, over 29 percent of teens in drug treatment programs were dependent on tranquilizers, sedatives, amphetamines, and other stimulants. Teens that begin abusing prescription drugs prior to age 16 have the highest risk of dependence. Figures, appendix, references