When parents in your community think about safeguarding their teens from drugs, they usually think of illicit street drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.  But today teens are abusing prescription drugs more than any illicit drug except marijuana.

The statistics on prescription drug abuse are startling: every day, more than 2,000 kids age 12 to 17 try a painkiller non-medically for the first time and 71 percent of persons age 12 and older who abuse these drugs say they get them from a relative or friend.  Perhaps most troubling is that many teens don't realize these drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs, so kids who would never try street drugs might feel safe abusing prescription drugs.

 Teens need only look as far as the medicine cabinet at home to get high. The teen problem of prescription drug abuse is predominantly one of access and awareness.  Check out the danger zones of your house.  

Prescription drugs are a threat to your teens.  Parents have power.  Parents can have a direct impact on teen access to these drugs so they can protect their teens from the dangers of prescription drugs.  As communities around the country renew their focus on the dangers of prescription drugs, parents must be aware they are not alone and there are many free resources available. 

Parents are encouraged to learn why teens are abusing prescription drugs, the signs and symptoms of abuse, and which drugs are more frequently abused at http://www.TheAntiDrug.com/drug_info/prescription_drugs.asp.