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EDITORIAL

Abuse of prescription drugs by teens on rise

The annual Monitoring the Future survey had some good news to
report this week: Cigarette smoking and underage drinking among
American teenagers continues to decline, as does use of illegal
drugs.

The study's results seem to indicate that young people are
getting the message that smoking and illegal drugs are bad for
their health and their futures.

But the survey, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug
Abuse and designed and conducted by the University of Michigan,
did find cause for concern: Sedatives, OxyContin and inhalants
were the only substances registering increases in use by teens.

Inhalants, because of their easy availability, continue to pose
a grave danger to teens who do not understand the potential for
brain damage or even death by inhaling fumes from common
household products. Parents and educators must continue to
emphasize the incredible risk kids take by experimenting with
such substances even once. It is particularly troubling that
survey results indicate inhalants are especially popular among
younger teens.

But it is sedatives and OxyContin that signal a need to teach
our kids that prescription drugs, used incorrectly, can be just
as dangerous and addictive as many illegal street drugs.

Sedatives, including barbiturates, affect the central nervous
system and are meant to be used only under the careful
supervision of a physician. After a decade-long increase, use of
sedatives by teens had leveled off in the 2003 survey. But this
year's survey found 7.2 percent of 12th-graders had used
sedatives - the highest number since 1991.

OxyContin is a powerful analgesic used to control pain.
Widespread addiction to OxyContin has had a devastating impact
on many communities throughout the country. In the 2003 survey,
4.5 percent of 12th-graders reported using OxyContin, but that
figure increased to 5.5 percent in 2005.

Prescription sedatives and pain medications have legitimate
medical purposes, but that should not lead young people to
believe that indiscriminate use of them is in any way "safe."
They can be just as addictive and dangerous as many other drugs
if they are abused.

Unfortunately, prescription drugs often are easier for kids to
obtain than street drugs. Some find them in their own family's
medicine cabinet, while others seek them over the Internet.

We must continue to teach our children that prescription drugs
are to be used for specific medical purposes, and any misuse of
them could put a child's life in danger.

Originally published December 21, 2005