RSS FeedThe results of a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan and the National Institute on Drug Abuse examined the attitudes teens take towards addictive substances and found that the use of marijuana and prescription drugs has increased, while the use of cigarettes, alcohol and meth has decreased.
Researchers found that one of the reasons behind the increase in marijuana abuse was the recent debates surrounding the use of medical marijuana. Teens felt that if marijuana was okay to use as medicine, then they should be able to use it as a recreational drug.
The reasoning behind the increased abuse of prescription drugs may be founded in the same logic. Without really thinking it through, teens may feel that if someone can be prescribed a drug as medicine, they should be able to use it to get high. They may also be under the mistaken impression that while prescription drugs can do them some harm, they are not lethal since they are medicine. Unfortunately, they could not be more wrong.
Here are some precautions you can take to make sure that your teens and their friends do not abuse prescription drugs and keep them out of drug rehab:
1. Keep your prescription drugs out of reach. Many of us felt that this precaution only needed to be taken when there are young children around. Really, we need to keep an eye of prescriptions and controlled substances at all times. Even if you feel certain that your children will not use them, you cannot be sure that their friends or other guests will not find and abuse your prescription drugs.
2. Educate your children. It is not enough to just talk to your kids about not taking illegal drugs; you must also impress upon them the dangers that come with taking a drug that is not prescribed to them. Some kids take them with intent to harm themselves, while others are just bored and looking for a thrill. Either way, there is danger in taking medication that is not meant specifically for you.
3. Keep the lines of communication open. By talking to your kids frequently, not just about drugs, but about their lives in general, you can prevent them from turning to drugs in the first place.
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