Pubdate: Tue, 16 May 2006 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Page: D4 Copyright: 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Associated Press Cited: Partnership for a Drug-Free America study - 22 page .pdf file http://www.drugfree.org/Files/Full_Teen_Report Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Vicodin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) TEEN ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS GOES UNCHECKED, STUDY INDICATES While teen smoking and drinking continue to drop, a new survey indicates that teenage abuse of prescription drugs has become "an entrenched behavior" that many parents fail to recognize. For a third straight year, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America study showed that about one in five teens has tried prescription painkillers like Vicodin or OxyContin to get high -- about 4.5 million teens. It also indicated that many teens feel experimenting with prescription drugs is safer than illegal highs. Forty percent said prescription medicines were "much safer" than illegal drugs, while 31% said there was "nothing wrong" with using prescription drugs "once in a while." The study further found that 29% of teens believe prescription pain relievers are nonaddictive. "It's really a case now of accepting the fact that it's here," Partnership President and Chief Executive Steve Pasierb said of the prescription-drug numbers. "Clearly, this is a true problem in American society." Mr. Pasierb said it was a good sign that the prescription-drug numbers hadn't increased, but warned parents that the source of drugs is the family medicine cabinet more than any dealer. The study found 62% of teens said prescription pain relievers are easy to find at home. And 52% said prescription pain relievers are "available everywhere." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake