PRESCRIPTION DRUGS A GATEWAY FOR TEEN DRUG ABUSE

With Many Substances Harder to Find, Study Shows Drop in Illegal Drug Abuse

A new national survey that shows a continued decline in teen
substance abuse mirrors trends in the Houston area, local experts say.

The report, released Thursday by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, also revealed that more American
teens trying drugs for the first time are getting high on
prescription medications.

"Prescription medications are becoming the gateway drugs for
adolescents, where it used to be alcohol and marijuana," said Matt
Feehery, CEO of Memorial Hermann System's Prevention and Recovery
Center, a residential treatment facility that added a wing for
children 13 to 17 last month.

All 10 current residents were admitted for addictions to prescription
drugs, he said.

"They're bypassing the heroin and cocaine. Meth is harder to get
ahold of right now, because the government is clamping down," Feehery
said. "It means that adolescents are becoming more creative and
finding alternative substances to use to get the same effect."

The survey, with more than 67,000 participants, is the nation's
largest on drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

From 2002 to 2007, the survey found a decrease in the rates of
adolescent substance abuse for almost every type of illegal drug,
including marijuana, cocaine, LSD, Ecstasy and meth as well as
prescription drugs.

"If there is less use overall, that's a positive sign," said Feehery,
who said his clients are taking antidepressants, sleeping aids and
pain pills in combination with alcohol, marijuana and other stimulants.

The drop in teen drug use coincides with efforts by the Office of
National Drug Control Policy to educate teens and parents about the
dangers of drugs.

Still, substance abuse continues to be a big problem for middle and
high school students.

The report showed that in 2007, one in 10 youths ages 12 to 17 were
illicit drug users.

About 2.5 million new teen substance abusers were initiated through
prescription drugs. Next was marijuana, with 2.1 million new adolescent users.

John O'Neill, director of addiction services for the Menninger
Clinic, a psychiatric specialty hospital in Houston, said the study's
emphasis on prescription drugs coincides with an upswing of patients
addicted to such medications at his clinic.

"There's the perception that they're not as harmful and that they
certainly can't be as bad as cocaine, meth or a street drug. Teens
want to experiment and, if there's something that's easy to access,
they will experiment with that," O'Neill said.

"I really believe that helping parents, extended family members and
friends to not have medications sitting around can reduce the amount
of experimentation."

Thursday's report does not include state-specific data, which will be
released later.

According to last year's state-by-state findings, 9 percent of Texas
teens reported using illicit drugs, mostly marijuana, in the previous
month. Seven percent of Texas teens said they abused prescription painkillers.

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A SHIFT IN ABUSE

The report showed that in 2007, one in 10 youths ages 12 to 17 were
illicit drug users:

. Prescription drugs : 2.5 million new teen substance abusers

. Marijuana : 2.1 million new adolescent users