Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jul 2006 Source: Register-Guard, The (OR) Copyright: 2006 The Register-Guard Contact: http://www.registerguard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362 Author: Jerry Gjesvold Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE A GROWING THREAT When it comes to our kids, it can seem like there's something new to be concerned about every day. Stress, overwork and "overprogramming." MySpace, with its peer meanness and adult predators. Growing up way too fast. Threats most of us never encountered at their age. Now, there's a new one: prescription drug abuse. A major study released a few weeks ago by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America found that one in five American teenagers have misused prescription painkillers. Nearly a third believed there was no reason not to use these drugs occasionally, and almost as many believed they couldn't become addicted to them. This might help explain why use of hallucinogens, LSD and ecstasy have all dropped significantly among students, while painkiller use has increased among all youth age groups. It's hard to overstate the seriousness of this problem. According the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there's been a rapid rise in prescription drug addiction during the past few years. The groups most at risk of abuse are those 50 and older - and those younger than 25. In a way, it's not surprising. Prescription drug abuse among adults is already a serious problem, and young people usually mirror the attitudes of the adults around them. We tend to downplay the dangers of powerful drugs when prescribed by our doctors. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America study showed that 40 percent of seventh-to-12th-graders believed drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin were much safer than illicit drugs. It's also surprisingly easy for teens to get painkillers. More than half reported that these drugs were "available everywhere." The Center for Substance Abuse at the University of Maryland recently found almost 200 Internet sites selling controlled substances - essentially without a prescription. Researchers noted that there were "no mechanisms in place to block children from purchasing prescription drugs online." And parents should be concerned about one additional fact: More than 60 percent of teens - more than three in five - said powerful painkillers were easily available at home. There are a number of steps that parents can take. The first, of course, is increasing their awareness of this problem. Prescription drug abuse is a real threat to our young people. Parents who admit this are going to deal with it more effectively. Talk with your kids about it. Keep it in mind as a possibility when you're monitoring their online use. Once you're aware of the risk, it's important to control the drugs in your home carefully. Unused drugs should always be disposed of promptly. In the same way you're aware of how much liquor is in the liquor cabinet, you should be aware of how many prescription pills you have. Obviously, both kinds of drugs are a real temptation to young people, and responsible parents don't make that temptation worse by not paying attention. In situations like this, it can be easy to panic. It's important to remember that the percentage of young people misusing these drugs is still quite small. But that doesn't mean that the problem doesn't exist, and it is a very dangerous situation for young people who do get involved in it. Parents will definitely want to be aware. The opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer. As Serenity Lane's statewide coordinator of employer services, Jerry Gjesvold helps companies in Oregon create and manage their drug-free workplace policies and programs. More information: www.serenitylane.org. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman