12.13.23 News Release from the NIDA
Reported drug use among adolescents continued to hold below pre-pandemic levels in 2023… yet overdose death rates among teens have risen in recent years.
Read ArticleUnused prescription drugs present a temptation to teens interested in experimentation. Your unused pain medications may seem safe to your teen because they were prescribed by a doctor, or because they've seen you use them. To compound the misperceptions, more than one-quarter of parents believe that abusing prescription drugs is safer than abusing street drugs. However, prescription drug misuse can result in a tremendous amount of unwanted consequences, especially among teens.
The easiest place they can. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), at least “two-thirds of teens who misused pain relievers in the past year say that they got them from family and friends, including their home’s medicine cabinets.”
Some of the prescription drugs that teens most often misuse include opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone (Vicodin); Central Nervous System depressants, like diazepam (Valium), or alprazolam (Xanax); and stimulants, like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine or dextroamphetamine (Adderall), according to Nemours TeensHealth. There are many reasons young people might misuse prescription drugs, including:
So, to your teen, sneaking from your bottle of pills is a way to either get high for free or deal with any variety of issues they are facing.
There’s a great deal of speculation in the research literature about Pharming Parties -- a gathering where participants bring contributions of pills and combine them to create a “pill buffet” with other party-goers. The Urban Dictionary claims this is simply another urban myth, hyped by the media. But whether or not “pharming” parties actually occur on a wide scale, reputable sources such as Psychology Today and The American Journal of Nursing warn that teenagers -- especially those in college -- are indeed bringing their parents’ drugs to parties and sharing them with friends. It really doesn’t matter if they throw them in a fishbowl or not --the consequences of mixing prescription drugs are potentially deadly, and mixing them with alcohol is even worse.
SAMHSA recommends a variety of ways to keep teens safe from prescription drug misuse. These include better education for parents and teens about the dangers of misusing prescription drugs, safer care of the drugs at home when it comes to storing them and disposing of them, and better monitoring of drug use by health care professionals.
Whatever the situation may be, parents and teens need to be aware of the dangers prescription drugs pose to young people. The cost of using them far outweighs any falsely perceived benefits.
Reported drug use among adolescents continued to hold below pre-pandemic levels in 2023… yet overdose death rates among teens have risen in recent years.
Read ArticleThis week - and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Watch VideoDuring October, we celebrate all the possibilities that prevention brings! Together, we’re partners in prevention.
Read ArticleOur youth are uniquely vulnerable to potent marijuana and the risks associated with current-day substance misuse. Check out this article from Safe and Sober Founder, Kurt Larson.
Read ArticleAugust 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day – the world’s largest campaign to end overdose.
Read ArticleThe U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the American public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.
Read ArticleBinge drinking is all the rage with BORGs, a new alcohol concoction.
Read ArticleAn all-too-familiar story of prescribed medications leading to deadly addiction.
Watch VideoHow can you help teens stay safe on prom night? Keep reading to find out.
Read ArticleThere is an opioid crisis sweeping the nation, and fentanyl is at the center of it.
Read ArticleWhy do teens vape? Mental health plays a big part in their reasoning.
Read ArticleA new generation of nicotine addicts have easy access to vaping, and they don't know the risks.
Read ArticleLearn why parents have been easing up on alcohol rules, and the consequences they don't know they're bringing on.
Read ArticleThere are ways to spot marijuana use in teens. Learn about some here.
Read ArticleApproaching your teen about serious topics can be hard. This gives you a good place to start.
Read ArticleLearn about the dangers of the wide-spread drug, cannabis
Read ArticleThe drug market might be following your teen home.
Read ArticleVaping paves the pathway to other addictions for young nicotine users.
Read ArticleHow a WWII study proves this parenting theory wrong
Read ArticleLearn about nitrous oxide and its popularity with teens.
Read ArticleSubstance misuse is growing among teens. Learn some of the factors, and what you can do about them.
Read ArticleLearn about the various types of impaired driving and the dangers they create.
Read ArticleRead about the ways language around addiction is changing.
Read ArticleAll teens are at risk of falling into substance misuse. Learn how to spot the signs and what to do about them.
Read ArticleLearn why alcohol impaired driving has been on the rise, and what you can do to stop it.
Read ArticleA look at how alcohol affects the developing brains of teenagers.
Watch VideoThis product was supported by SAMHSA grant funding.
Watch VideoReal talk from real teens on avoiding alcohol in high school.
Watch VideoWe break down the science and social factors of nicotine addiction.
Watch VideoLaw enforcement officers talk about their experiences with underage drinkers.
Watch VideoHealthline's Carly Vandergriendt shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about alcohol.
Read ArticleThe story of one young life cut short by a dangerous decision and tragic circumstances.
Watch VideoBro! For the first time ever, teenage girls now consume more alcohol than their male peers. Read why this flip of the alcohol gender gap has serious implications.
Read ArticleWhy binge drinking is a prevalent issue among teens, and how you can prevent it
Read ArticlePandemic Disruptions Continue for Students and Families
Read ArticleThe decision to drink and drive can impact your future and put lives in danger. Choose to say no.
Watch VideoFor your family. For your friends. For your future. For you.
Watch VideoMany teens are still struggling with emotional challenges as the world moves on from COVID-19. Our featured guest contributor breaks down some of the warning signs.
Read ArticleOpioid prescriptions are often misused. Safety is a top priority.
Read ArticleMiddle and high school students have been in the center of a mental health crisis for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought the situation into sharp focus.
Read ArticleStart the conversation about mental health with your teen.
Read ArticleThe earlier you can start the conversation, the better.
Read Article