#24. Prescription Drug Abuse among Adolescents
Different segments of the population are marking an increase in the number of people prone to drug abuse. According to different surveys, prescription drugs are becoming commonly used by high school students. These drugs are the second most widely used category of drugs among students and teenagers.
Most teenagers have experience in using opiates, benzodiazepines and methamphetamine. It has become easy for teenagers to buy these drugs using a prescription. According to another survey, 70% of all teenagers using drugs get the prescription medicines through friends or family members. Only 5% of the total population addicted to drugs is getting them from the black market or over the Internet.
It is not safe for parents to keep prescription drugs in the medicine cabinet. Though the medicine prescribed is to eliminate an ailment in an adult, teenagers in the home can consume at out of addiction. Resisting the addiction is impossible for most teenagers. They are easily prone to trouble and can get out of control when they are devoid of the regular share of drug. It also leads to violent actions and this is a critical situation for a parent. It is important for parents to keep a watch over their prescription drugs at home. At the same time, watching over the behavior pattern of the child is also necessary to find out about drug abuse activities.
Apart from storing the prescription medicines in a locked container, parents can also create a friendly environment at home. Creating such an environment is important for a parent to make their teenage kids talk openly about a problem that is causing them to fall into depression or anxiety. This is the first stage where a teenager usually opts for drugs in order to overcome such a situation. However, when there is a friendly atmosphere at home, teenagers usually approach their parents to talk over the issue that is troubling them. This is a good way to reduce anxiety and depression in a child.
Parents can also build a stronger family bond by participating in events that talk about the ill effects of overuse of prescription drugs. Apart from limiting the use of drugs, parents can keep their teenager busy with different activities in order to create a diversion of mind. The communication between a parent and child is essential. It is possible for a parent to solve the drug problem of a teenager. All they have to do is to offer support and help them overcome this situation in a delicate way.