Drug abuse continues to be a pervasive problem

Partnership for a Drug-Free AmericaDec 15 2009

MStatement of Steve Pasierb, President

The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study (MTF) -- the largest survey on teen drug abuse tracking over 46,000 8th, 10th and 12th graders -- underscores that teens' intentional abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines continues to be a cause for concern, with an alarming number of young people abusing medicines they obtain from friends and relatives.

Teen Abuse of Medication Continues to Be a Pervasive Problem, but Parents Can Make a Difference

According to the study, 33 percent of 12th graders who reported abusing prescription narcotics in the past year were given the medication by a friend or relative, 21 percent bought the medication from a friend or relative, 19 percent abused their own medication prescribed to them by a physician, 12 percent took the narcotic from a friend or relative and 8 percent bought from a dealer or stranger. Among the same cohort of teens, the study also found that Rx and OTC medicines account for 8 out of 13 of the most frequently abused drugs.

"The Monitoring the Future study confirms that teen abuse of Rx and OTC medications continues to be a pervasive problem that unfortunately has become a far too normal part of many teens' lives," said Steve Pasierb, President. "Teens are not only getting these medications from their own homes, but even more troubling, they are also getting them from friends and relatives."

"It is important for parents to educate themselves about the medications kids are abusing and communicate with their kids to dispel the notion that medicines can be safely abused," said Pasierb. "It is also crucial that parents safeguard medications at home, limit access, keep track of quantities and make certain that friends and relatives do the same."

Progress on Methamphetamine, Marijuana Use Tilts up Slightly

The number of high school seniors reporting they used methamphetamine in the past year is now at only 1.2 percent -- the lowest since questions about methamphetamine were added to the survey in 1999, when it was reported at 4.7 percent. In addition, the proportion of 10th graders reporting that crystal meth was easy to obtain has dropped to 14 percent, down from 19.5 percent five years ago.

Monitoring the Future also found that teen marijuana use has been increasing gradually over the past two years (three years among 12th graders) following years of declining use.

"The MTF study serves as a stark reminder that the current drug culture is vastly different from when parents were teens themselves," said Pasierb. "Today's teens have gone from abusing street drugs to products they easily find at home. Communication between parents and kids is the most effective prevention tool when it comes to protecting your teen from abusing medications. Parents can make a difference, and we know that kids who report learning 'a lot' about the dangers of drug abuse at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use."