MORE VALLEY TEENS GETTING HIGH ON MEDICATIONS

More teenagers are using prescription medications and even
over-the-counter drugs, like cough syrup, to get high, according to
a new study.

The Rio Grande Valley is no exception.

A survey released last week from the National Institute on Drug
Abuse found that the number of young teens abusing the prescription
drug OxyContin has nearly doubled in the last four years, and
slightly more teens are using the painkiller Vicodin. In addition,
about 7 percent of 12th-graders reported abusing cough or
cold medicines. That's about one in every 14, according to the survey.

Although the percentage of teens using illicit drugs is much larger
- -- 37 percent of 12th-graders reported illicit drug use in the last
year -- the growing reliance on over-the-counter drugs and
prescriptions is worrisome, local officials say.

"Teenagers are definitely getting into the prescription stuff, in
addition to other drugs," said Joe Gonzalez, executive director of
the Rio Grande Valley Council Inc., which offers screenings and
referrals for alcohol and drug treatment. "It's increasing,
especially among the middle-school group."

The council's records don't identify the number of clients addicted
to prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Those cases are lumped
into a few other categories like "other narcotics," Gonzalez said.
However, he said, the council began seeing more cases about five
years ago, and it's been a steady stream ever since.

"There's a lot of peer influence (to try cough medicine)," he said.
"It's something that draws them in to using other substances."

Cough medicines generally contain the ingredient dextromethorphan,
which in large doses can cause a euphoric feeling. It also causes
dangerous side effects in high doses, such as rapid heartbeat,
disorientation and hallucinations, according to information from
Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

More Valley teens also are getting hooked on prescription cough
syrup that contains the narcotic codeine, said Rosie Cavazos,
service coordinator for the New Vision detoxification program at
Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital in San Benito.

"I'm seeing a big increase in that now and in pain medication," Cavazos said.

The program has an average of 20 to 30 patients a month, and about
one-third are adolescents, she said. Several of those teens report
taking prescription medication in addition to alcohol and other
drugs, she said.

"They say it's easy to get hold of. They can find it in the medicine
cabinet," Cavazos said. "They'll even exchange with each other."

Despite recent laws restricting access to cold and allergy
medications containing ephedrine, local teens still report taking
ephedrine to get high, said Ricardo Garza, acting executive director
for the Palmer Drug Abuse Program in Brownsville. NyQuil, which has
a high alcohol content, is another popular choice.

The medications are all too accessible, Garza said.

"They go into the pharmacy and steal it, or a teenager over 18 will
buy it for them," he said.

Medications containing narcotics, such as Vicodin or OxyContin, also
are gaining ground among Valley teens, officials say, and it might
be happening right under parents' noses.

"Parents might not realize that those pain medications have
narcotics. ... They need to know," Cavazos said.

Cavazos suggested that parents monitor their medicine cabinets and
throw out medicine they don't need. In addition, they should
supervise children's prescription-medication use, she said.

"They shouldn't take more than is prescribed or ask for more
(refills) than is prescribed," Cavazos said.

However, parents should keep in mind that the problem of
illegal-drug use is much more widespread among Valley teens than
prescription-drug use, Garza said. Parents should watch for signs of
illicit-drug abuse as well, he said.

"Marijuana and crack are still our number-one problems, and it keeps
getting worse and worse," he said.