Drugs Easier to Obtain Than Beer

"Years ago, the main concern parent's had was that their teens might raid their liquor cabinet," states Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia. "Now they have another cabinet to worry about: the medicine cabinet."

A recent survey among 12-to-17-year-olds by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) showed some startling results:

Getting prescription drugs was easier than getting cigarettes or beer.

Of those teens abusing prescription medications:

· 31 percent said they got these from friends or classmates;

· 34 percent said they got these from home, parents or the medicine cabinet;

· 16 percent said other;

· Nine percent said from a drug dealer.

"Parents need to be aware that they may be unwittingly contributing to drug addiction by not locking their medicine cabinet," comments Ms. Rieser. "It is one thing for a teen to drink, which is bad enough. It is another to be hooked on OxyContin, Xanax, Percocet, or any other drug that may be in the medicine cabinet. These are not drugs to play around with. Withdrawal is very painful, and in the case of Xanax, can be deadly. The addicted teen will do anything to stop the withdrawal symptoms. Anything."

Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia advises that there are things that can be done:

Lock the medicine cabinet. Properly dispose of any unused prescription medications.

Be aware that even such seemingly benign over-the-counter drugs containing DXM, such as cough syrup, can be chugged to get a high.

Monitor your child's behavior- The CASA survey showed that 50 percent of those children staying out after 10 PM drank, smoked or got high.

Educate your children on the dangers of drug abuse, even medical drugs.

"Kids think that because these are prescribed by a doctor, they are safe," comments Ms. Rieser. "There is only one problem. The difference between the amount they take for a high and the amount that causes an overdose is very little.

"One small thing that the survey showed is very simple: Have dinner with your children. The CASA survey noted that 23 percent of teens who ate fewer than three dinners a week with their family had used marijuana, compared with 10 percent when the family ate together five or more times a week."

For more information on drug addiction rehabilitation, over the counter drug abuse, or drug education, call Narconon of Georgia at 1-877-413-3073.
 
Copyright © 2008. Narconon of Georgia Inc.(www.drugsno.com) Call 1-877-413-3073. All rights reserved. Narconon and the Narconon Logo are trademarks and service marks owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.