April 12, 2006 -- Teens Report Using Prescription Drugs

A survey of 12th graders has found that teens have growing confidence in prescription drugs as "responsible" or "safe" and that they are having little trouble getting such drugs from parents, friends, on the Internet, or from physicians. The result, the Monitoring the Future survey found, is that prescription drugs are outstrpping illegal street drugs in popularity among teens, with prescription drugs being used for "practical" effects--hypnotic drugs for sleep, stimulants to enhance school performance, and tranquilizers to decrease stress. While it is good news that cocaine and other street drugs seem to be declining in use by teens, it is important to point out that prescription drugs also have risks, says an article in the April 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). "Even in small doses," the article points out, "sedatives, hypnotics, and opiates have subtle effects and cognition and motor skills," increasing the risk of injury in activities such as sports and driving; and the long-term effects on the still-developing brains of teenagers are unknown. The commentary, "The Changing Face of Teenage Drug Abuse—The Trend toward Prescription Drugs," appeared in the April 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.