At a time when drug and alcohol abuse among teens is stabilizing, prescription drug abuse continues to escalate (up 33 percent from 2008). When we think of drug use among teens, we think of parents as the combative force against it. But recent studies are showing us that might not be the case. In fact, parents might be contributing to the problem of prescription drug abuse.
A recent study by The Partnership at Drugfree.org found that many parents, often because of lack of awareness, misinformation or denial, are taking a more hands-off approach when it comes to prescription drugs. And even though many parents are finding time to talk to their kids about alcohol or street drugs, far less are talking to them about the dangers of prescription drugs. The scary truth is that researchers found 1 in 4 teens had misused prescription drugs. So why when we are facing a prescription drug abuse epidemic in this country are parents drawing a line between prescription drugs and illicit drugs?
