PARENTS: OPEN YOUR EYES TO PRESCRIPTION-DRUG ABUSE

A recent survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance
Abuse at Columbia University found that increasing numbers of young
people are prone to abuse alcohol along with several kinds of drugs,
including prescription drugs, at parties and other social gatherings.
Worse yet, the study found that most parents had no clue about such
activities, even those who were at home during many of these parties.

As parents open their eyes to this reality, they must also know that
the intentional abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to
get high has quickly established itself as a serious new tier of teen
substance abuse, one that deserves great attention and their immediate
action.

Amazingly, most kids know these drugs are easy to get, whether swiped
from the home or a friend's medicine cabinet or bought via the
Internet. Few parents suspect that medications in their own home can
be pilfered by young, curious, risk-taking teens.

This was certainly true for Linda Surks of New Jersey, who lost her
19- year-old son, Jason, to prescription drug abuse in 2003. As a
substance- abuse prevention professional, Linda knew the warning signs
to look for when it came to illicit drugs but not those associated
with medicine abuse. Jason, a pre-pharmacy college student, not only
knew how to access information on prescription drugs online, he was
able to purchase them with ease over the Internet. Jason's death
revealed a whole new world of danger that Linda, and hundreds of
parents like her, never knew existed.

The 2005 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study found that an alarming
number of teens had a false sense of security about intentionally
abusing prescription drugs. In fact, nearly one in five teens across
the United States reported nonmedical use of prescription drugs,
including pain relievers, stimulants and tranquilizers, to get high.
About 6 million teens mistakenly believe that pain medications are not
addictive. Nearly one-third of teens believe there is nothing wrong
with the occasional abuse of such medications to get high, and almost
40 percent think prescription drugs are safer than illegal substances
such as marijuana, crack and heroin.

Today, when Linda speaks to parents throughout the country, her
message is loud and clear: Parents might be naive to the dangers of
prescription-drug abuse, but they are not powerless to prevent this
incredibly damaging behavior with otherwise good medicine.

Parents should start by educating themselves about medications that
have potential for abuse, especially the ones in their own medicine
cabinet. Discuss with your kids that abusing medicine can be just as
dangerous, addictive and even deadly as using "street drugs."
Safeguard these medications by taking a regular inventory and keeping
tabs on exact quantities, and dispose of ones that are no longer needed.

Communication between parents and their kids is the most effective
tool when it comes to preventing your kids from abusing prescription
drugs. Our research shows that young people who learn about the danger
of substance abuse at home are up to 50 percent less likely to experiment.

Sadly, fewer than one-third of teens say they get this message from
their parents. Having frank discussions about drug and alcohol use is
often awkward and uncomfortable, but in the end, may ultimately save
your child's life.

Stephen J. Pasierb is president and CEO of Partnership for a Drug-Free
America. Contact him at Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 405
Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10174 or at www.drugfree.org.