Brentwood 6/25/2013 9:00:00 PM
News / Health & Wellness

Addicts & Age

Younger kids are developing bigger drug problems, but parents can prevent their child from falling prey.

Younger kids are developing very adult drug problems. Their stories are often similar. They began self-medicating in their early teens to compensate for issues like ADHD or out of boredom. In some cases they started by using drugs like Adderall that were prescribed for them. Drinking and/or marijuana use usually gets added to numb anger, anxiety or insecurity. Prescription painkillers, cocaine or heroin may follow. By their late teens they’ve had run-ins with the law and may have tried treatment several times already.

You’ve just met the new addict.

Nearly 8 percent of kids ages 12 to 17 used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons in 2010 according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The number of adolescents and young adults coming to rehab today is much larger than even five years ago. About 40 percent of those entering rehab now are addicted to prescription drugs according to a California treatment professional.

Some teens start using drugs simply to fit in with their peers. They find that a group that accepts them is one doing drugs, and those drugs are easier to get than ever. Sometimes they are as close as your home medicine cabinet. Because prescription drugs are dispensed by doctors, many parents don’t see the danger. They may leave leftover medications in the home, and these are easily accessible to teens who are eager to experiment.

Prescribed medications include opioids like OxyContin and Vicodin, sedatives or depressants such as Xanax or Valium and stimulants like Adderall or Concerta. Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Getting Help for Drug Abuse at La Paloma

Experts warn parents that if they are suspicious, it's better to err on the side of acting on it and getting a professional opinion. If you suspect your child, sibling or other loved one may need treatment for prescription drug abuse, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about assessments, treatment, financing or insurance.