Grandparents May Be Supplying Drugs to Children This
Summer Without Even Knowing It
70% of teens who abuse Rx drugs get them from family
and friends - see video
See movie below
June 15, 2011 - Studies show that more teens start
using drugs during the summer months - while unsupervised and with more
free time. Some of them may even be finding their grandparents home a
treasure trove of easy to reach temptations.
With the end of the school year approaching,
children look forward to a long break - and a lot of time at home alone.
When teenagers are released from school for long break periods, such as
summer, the risk of substance abuse increases.
● 70% of teens who abuse Rx drugs get them from
family and friends.
● 68% of households do not properly secure their
Rx medications.
● Studies show that unmonitored kids are four
times more likely to engage in substance abuse.
● The distressed employment market makes it
harder for teens to find summer jobs, leading to more boredom,
restlessness and free time.
● A new study surveyed 2,500 high schoolers and
reported that one in four admitted to abusing Rx drugs.
Tips for grandparents:
● Safeguard all medicines by monitoring
quantities and controlling access. Remove drugs from your medicine
cabinet and lock them up.
● Warn youngsters that prescription drugs can be
just as dangerous, addictive, and lethal as street drugs. Studies show
that teens dangerously view prescription drugs as "safer" to abuse than
illicit drugs.
● Properly dispose of old or expired medicines
in the trash. Hide or mix them with cat litter or coffee grounds before
throwing them away.
About the issue:
The CDC lists prescription drug abuse as the
fastest-growing drug problem among 12-17 year olds. One in four high
school students in the U.S. admits to having taken a prescription drug
without a prescription. The number of teens going into treatment for
addiction to prescription drugs has increased by more than 300%.
Emergency room visits for prescription drug abuse have more than doubled
since 2004, 48% of all ER visits for prescription drug abuse are by
young people ages 12-20. Prescription drugs are now involved in more
overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine, combined.
Lock Your Meds is the new national campaign from
the National Family Partnership (NFP) to inform families that they are
frequently the "unintentional suppliers" of prescription medications
being abused by young people.
The NFP says it is the largest and oldest
drug-prevention group in the United States, and in 1988 developed "Red
Ribbon Week" into the annual campaign that now reaches more than 80
million people each year, mobilizing parents, schools and communities.
As the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention group, NFP is
committed to keeping families informed.
Lock Your Meds
Grandparents can learn more about preventing
prescription drug abuse at home this summer by downloading the
MEDucation Kit from Lock Your Meds. This resource provides a good dose
of knowledge about prescription drug abuse among adolescents. The
comprehensive kit teaches grandparents lessons about the problems of
abuse and the solutions available for families.
● 70% of teens who abuse Rx drugs get them from
family and friends. 
Grandparents can learn more about preventing
prescription drug abuse at home this summer by downloading the
MEDucation Kit from Lock Your Meds. This resource provides a good dose
of knowledge about prescription drug abuse among adolescents. The
comprehensive kit teaches grandparents lessons about the problems of
abuse and the solutions available for families.