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Drug prescription abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the US. Every day in the US, 2,500 youth abuse a pain reliever prescription for the first time. It is often a less recognized form of drug abuse, as illegal drug abuse is typically highlighted in the media and across communities.
Teens who abuse prescription drugs are twice as likely to use alcohol, five times more likely to use marijuana, and twelve to twenty times more likely to use illegal street drugs such as heroin, Ecstasy and cocaine than teens who do not abuse prescrip-tion drugs.
1 in 4 teens has misused or abused a prescription (Rx) drug at least once in their lifetime That is a 33 percent increase over a five-year period.
One in eight teens (13 percent) now reports that they have taken the stimulants Ritalin or Adderall when it was not prescribed for them, at least once in their lifetime.
13%27%
23%
20%
56%
26%
More than a quarter of teens (27 percent) mistakenly believe that misusing and abusing prescription drugs is safer than using street drugs.
Of those kids who said they abused Rx medications, one in five (20 percent) has done so before age 14.
Almost one in four teens (23 percent) say their parents don’t care as much if they are caught using Rx drugs without a doctor’s prescription, compared to getting caught with illegal drugs.
One in four teens (26 percent) believes that prescription drugs can be used as a study aid.
More than half of teens (56 percent) indicate that it’s easy to get prescription drugs from their parent’s medicine cabinet. In fact, about half of parents (49 percent) say anyone can access their medicine cabinet.
One in five parents (20 percent) report that they have given their teen a prescription drug that was not prescribed for them.
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Heroin, Ecstasy & Cocaine
marijuana
alcohol
90% of addictions start in the teenage years.
Every day in the US, 2,500 youth (12 to 17) abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time.
12Age
17
Age
14
2Time
s
5Time
s
12-20Time
s
33%
For more information on lingo, slang and acronyms associated with illegal, inappropriate or dangerous behavior, visit www.uknowkids.com.
Statistics found at DrugFree.org.
The toplingo termsassociatedwith
prescription drug
use in teens from
uKnowLingo:The top lingo terms associated with prescription drug use in teens from uKnowLingo:
Syrupprescription cough syrup
Kiddie dopeusually prescription drugs
Script writera doctor willing to write a prescription for faked symptoms
Drankprescription cough syrup, often mixed with Sprite
Gorkedto be high on prescription narcotics
Drunk pillsvalium
Sizzurpprescription cough syrup mixed with a fruity soda and a jolly rancher. Also can be called purple drank, lean, texas tea, tsikuni, drank, barre
�e information you need to know & PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
