Profession
Teens have easy access to potentially abusive substances
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 7, 2009
Prescription drugs, cigarettes and alcohol are readily accessible to teens intent on using and abusing them, a new survey found.
Researchers estimated that nearly 9 million 12- to 17-year-olds are able to obtain prescription drugs within a day, and nearly 5 million can get them in an hour, according to an annual survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York City.
When asked where they got drugs, the most common sources were home, parents, other family members and friends.
The findings are available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/07/prbf0907.htm.