Campaign Sounds Alarm about Misuse of Prescription Drugs Among Teens

The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and representatives from 15 nationally recognized prevention, health professional and child advocacy organizations, are launching “Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do to Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse.”

Although the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs among youth has declined from 2002 through 2008, over this time many teens have turned to misusing prescription drugs, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

In fact, prescription drugs are misused more by this age group than any illicit drug, except marijuana. The nonmedical use of these medicines—the very same drugs used to legitimately relieve pain, and treat conditions like anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, or ADHD in some people—is a growing and under-recognized problem that puts young lives at risk.

“Prescription drugs found in home medicine cabinets across the country have become the new drug of choice among teens, and every teen is at risk,” says Ray Bullman, Executive Vice President of NCPIE. “This initiative gives teen influencers—anyone who interacts with teens on a regular basis and can have a positive influence—the tools to help prevent prescription drug abuse in their school districts and communities. It also provides tips for delivering consistent prevention messages to teens at home, at school, on the field or during health-related visits.”

“While the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows recent, significant declines in misuse of prescription drugs, we must maintain our focus and continue to drive the rates down even further,” says Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H., SAMHSA’s Acting Administrator. “Joining forces with NCPIE will help continue the momentum.”

“These tools are essential for engaging youth and the adults who come in contact with them through a solid message that prescription misuse is dangerous and can be fatal,” adds H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CAS, FASAM, Director of SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

Unlike other forms of adolescent drug use, the desire to feel good or get high ranks much lower as a motivation for prescription drug misuse. Experts note that adolescents are turning to prescription drugs not just for recreational use—they are turning to prescription drugs to help manage their daily lives. The reasons include to lower stress and anxiety, boost their mood, stay up all night studying for an exam, or to enhance academic or athletic performance.

According to the 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, dealing with pressures and managing school-related stress is cited as the number one reason teens use prescription drugs.

The statistics regarding teen drug use are startling. Consider these facts:

• More than 1 in 10 teens (or 2.8 million) have abused prescription drugs in their lifetimes according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• 1 in 3 teens report knowing someone who abuses prescription drugs according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.
• 1 in 3 teens surveyed says there is “nothing wrong” when using prescription drugs “every once and a while.” according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.
• Every day, 2,700 teens abuse a prescription drug for the first time according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• 8 out of 10 teens who misuse prescription drugs get the drugs from friends or relatives through a number of means including stealing, buying or simply asking for the drugs according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.

The comprehensive online resource, “Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer”, offers a complete workshop module to educate and equip teeninfluencers—parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, community and school-basedhealthcare providers and others—with credible information about teen prescription drug abuseand effective strategies to take action to help prevent it.

The “Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer” toolkit includes complete workshop materials and instructions, as well as real-life scenarios, warning signs and symptoms, common myths about teen prescription drug abuse, brochures and sample promotional materials. This resource was developed with the guidance and insight of an esteemed group of experts, and is available for download at www.talkaboutrx.org.

This initiative is made possible by SAMHSA and additional grant funding from Purdue Pharma LP and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation.

NCPIE and SAMHSA are solely responsible for the content, and maintain editorial control, of all materials and publications produced.