Health
Teens more likely to abuse pain meds than illicit drugs
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 9, 2005
Approximately one in five teens has abused a prescription painkiller to get high, and one in 11 has abused over-the-counter products, such as cough medicine, says a report by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The report was released at an April 21 press conference.
The report shows that teens are more likely to have abused a prescription painkiller to get high than they are to have used a variety of illicit drugs, said Roy Bostock, partnership chair.
Physicians and others in public health face a major challenge in halting the abuse of these medications while ensuring that the drugs remain available for those who need them, said Michael D. Maves, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer of the AMA. Dr. Maves is also a member of the board of directors of the partnership.
"We should not demonize these otherwise beneficial medications but rather work to change behavior," Dr. Maves said.
Physicians should alert patients to the abuse potential of medications they are prescribed and tell them to dispose of any unused portions, he said. Patients also should be advised to consider keeping the drugs out of the medicine cabinet and in some safer location that is inaccessible to their children.
Children and teens also should be counseled on the dangers of abusing prescription drugs because many believe they carry less risk than do illicit drugs.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/05/09/hlbf0509.htm.
