Have you heard any recent news about drug issues involving local teens? There is no doubt, no matter what part of the country, or what part of the world you live in that could not be hearing about teen drug use. Unfortunately, it has become a simple fact of life.
Teen use of prescription medication is especially rampant. Parents - put a lock on your medicine cabinets! As reported in www.fredericknewspost.com.
The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted every two years by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, which includes data from national to local level showed that 24 percent of 12th-graders reported they’d taken a prescription drug, such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, codeine, Adderall, Ritalin or Xanax at least once in their life without a doctor’s prescription. How terrifying is that?
The survey more broadly monitors health behaviors, such as bullying and harassment, suicide, obesity, physical activity, nutrition, sexual behavior, injury and violence, tobacco and alcohol use, and other drug use.
Even more frightening is that parents and relatives are enabling them by making the meds easy to reach inside the home. Relatives and friends make it too easy to simply swipe a pill or two unnoticed here and there, and it’s a trend that is growing.
The problem appears to be worsening as in 2011 the same survey revealed that 20 percent of older teens taking a non-prescribed prescription drug.
I would like to think that increased vigilance by parents combined with mandatory drug education classes 9for both kids and parents) might make society a slightly better place. What do you think?