TEEN ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS GOES UNCHECKED, STUDY INDICATES

While teen smoking and drinking continue to drop, a new survey
indicates that teenage abuse of prescription drugs has become "an
entrenched behavior" that many parents fail to recognize.

For a third straight year, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America
study showed that about one in five teens has tried prescription
painkillers like Vicodin or OxyContin to get high -- about 4.5
million teens. It also indicated that many teens feel experimenting
with prescription drugs is safer than illegal highs.

Forty percent said prescription medicines were "much safer" than
illegal drugs, while 31% said there was "nothing wrong" with using
prescription drugs "once in a while." The study further found that
29% of teens believe prescription pain relievers are nonaddictive.

"It's really a case now of accepting the fact that it's here,"
Partnership President and Chief Executive Steve Pasierb said of the
prescription-drug numbers. "Clearly, this is a true problem in
American society."

Mr. Pasierb said it was a good sign that the prescription-drug
numbers hadn't increased, but warned parents that the source of drugs
is the family medicine cabinet more than any dealer. The study found
62% of teens said prescription pain relievers are easy to find at
home. And 52% said prescription pain relievers are "available everywhere."