PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE A GROWING THREAT

When it comes to our kids, it can seem like there's something new to
be concerned about every day. Stress, overwork and "overprogramming."
MySpace, with its peer meanness and adult predators. Growing up way
too fast. Threats most of us never encountered at their age.

Now, there's a new one: prescription drug abuse. A major study
released a few weeks ago by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America
found that one in five American teenagers have misused prescription
painkillers.

Nearly a third believed there was no reason not to use these drugs
occasionally, and almost as many believed they couldn't become
addicted to them. This might help explain why use of hallucinogens,
LSD and ecstasy have all dropped significantly among students, while
painkiller use has increased among all youth age groups.

It's hard to overstate the seriousness of this problem. According the
latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there's been a rapid
rise in prescription drug addiction during the past few years. The
groups most at risk of abuse are those 50 and older - and those
younger than 25.

In a way, it's not surprising. Prescription drug abuse among adults
is already a serious problem, and young people usually mirror the
attitudes of the adults around them.

We tend to downplay the dangers of powerful drugs when prescribed by
our doctors. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America study showed
that 40 percent of seventh-to-12th-graders believed drugs such as
OxyContin and Vicodin were much safer than illicit drugs.

It's also surprisingly easy for teens to get painkillers. More than
half reported that these drugs were "available everywhere."

The Center for Substance Abuse at the University of Maryland recently
found almost 200 Internet sites selling controlled substances -
essentially without a prescription. Researchers noted that there were
"no mechanisms in place to block children from purchasing
prescription drugs online."

And parents should be concerned about one additional fact: More than
60 percent of teens - more than three in five - said powerful
painkillers were easily available at home.

There are a number of steps that parents can take. The first, of
course, is increasing their awareness of this problem. Prescription
drug abuse is a real threat to our young people. Parents who admit
this are going to deal with it more effectively. Talk with your kids
about it. Keep it in mind as a possibility when you're monitoring
their online use.

Once you're aware of the risk, it's important to control the drugs in
your home carefully. Unused drugs should always be disposed of
promptly. In the same way you're aware of how much liquor is in the
liquor cabinet, you should be aware of how many prescription pills you have.

Obviously, both kinds of drugs are a real temptation to young people,
and responsible parents don't make that temptation worse by not
paying attention.

In situations like this, it can be easy to panic. It's important to
remember that the percentage of young people misusing these drugs is
still quite small.

But that doesn't mean that the problem doesn't exist, and it is a
very dangerous situation for young people who do get involved in it.
Parents will definitely want to be aware.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer. As
Serenity Lane's statewide coordinator of employer services, Jerry
Gjesvold helps companies in Oregon create and manage their drug-free
workplace policies and programs. More information: www.serenitylane.org.