Currently, as many as 1 in 4 teenagers have abused
prescription drugs. As the issue of
young adults abusing prescription medications continues to grow within our
nation, many parents are left wondering what they can do to ensure the safety
of their children. Smart Moves, Smart
Choices is a campaign to help both teenagers and parents become aware of this
growing issue and how to help stop it.
First and foremost, if you as a parent are concerned that
your child or another child you know is abusing prescription pain medications,
start by talking to the teenager. Most
importantly, be open and nonjudgmental.
Usually, abuse of prescription medication is indicative of an underlying
issue, and teenagers need to be heard and know that help is available and that
he or she is cared for. Be
supportive. Share the facts with your
teenagers; those who openly talk to their parents about the risks of drug abuse
are 50 percent less likely to use drugs in the first place, and many times
teenagers are misguided about the risks of prescription drugs. More than 40 percent of teenagers believe
they are safer to use than street drugs.
Lastly, get the child help. Talk
to a guidance counselor, a nurse, a principal, a doctor. Do not try to hide it or fix it by
yourself. Teenagers who are abusing
prescription medication need support and help.
Of note, parents need to be aware of the signs that their
child may be abusing prescription medication.
The effects of prescription drugs is related to what kind of
prescription drug the child is taking.
Painkillers
He or she may be drowsy with an
inability to concentrate and smaller pupils.
He or she may be flushed or be constipated. Most dangerously, he or she may be
experiencing a slower rate of breathing.
Depressants
Your child may have enlarged pupils
with slurred speech, loss of motor coordination, and fatigue. His or her blood pressure may be low, and the
rate of breathing may be slowed.
Inhibitions may be lowered. He or
she may experience poor concentration, impaired judgment, and confusion.
Stimulants
He or she may have increased
appetite, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. His or her pupils may be enlarged, and he or
she may experience dizziness, tremors, headache, flushed skin, and
sweating. Parents may see restlessness,
anxiety, aggression, panic, or paranoia.
Parents also need to be aware of how to store prescription
medications within their home. Often times,
homes are the easiest place for teenagers to gain access to prescription
drugs. Smart Moves, Smart Choices
recommends two easy solutions. Do not
store prescription drugs in medicine cabinets where they are easily
accessible. Instead, store them in a
secure area that children do not know about and consider placing the
medications within a locked compartment.
Next, it is important to know what is within the home. It is recommended that the amounts of
medication within each bottle are monitored.
This way, if pills mysteriously disappear or the bottle needs to be
refilled more frequently than usual, the issue can be identified quickly. It is also recommended that relatives and
parents of other teenagers be educated on storing prescription drugs in safe
places. The more who are aware of this
issue and how to avoid it, the better!
For parents who have medications that have expired or are
sitting unused, it is important they know the proper way to dispose of these
medications so they do not become abuse potential. First, it is vital that medications are not
flushed down the toilet; these medications will then be in the water system for
people to ingest. When it comes time to
dispose of prescription medications, make sure labels are removed so that no
one else can attempt to refill the bottle.
Smart Moves, Smart Choices also advocates that the medication be removed
from the bottle and mixed with another “undesirable” substance to discourage
teenagers or others from taking the pills from the trash. Additionally, parents should check with their
local police department on ways to safely dispose of prescription
medications. Within Chatham County,
there are anonymous safe drop boxes at all police stations where anyone can
drop off unlabeled pills into a secure box with no questions asked.
For more details, please see the Smart Moves, Smart Choices
website. http://www.smartmovessmartchoices.org/
