If you are socially aware at all you are informed about the current problem Americans have with prescription medications. From our nation’s elderly population to adults to children, the abuse of prescription medication abounds. There is no race, religion or age band excluded from its grasp.
A recent survey involving nearly 3,900 teens currently enrolled in grades 9 through 12 at public, private and parochial schools, along with more than 800 parents who participated in at-home interviews was yet another conclusive report that abuse of prescription meds is on the rise with our nation’s youth. As reported in www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com.
From my perspective, one way to look at this is that we’ve got a real public health crisis. And it’s not getting better. In fact, it’s getting deeper and more complex.
Parent Involvement Necessary
The key here is that kids and often their parents are buying into the myth and misunderstanding that prescription drug abuse is a safer way to get high, a safer alternative to street drugs, and that they can control it. What astounds me is that kids say that they don’t think that their parents are going to be upset if they know about this, and sadly parents are essentially saying the same thing.
Are parents that naïve? Can they be that valueless that these drugs are addictive and very dangerous? We will explore these questions in another blog.