Beech Tree News Network

Did you know….. One in four teens (24 percent) reports having misused or abused a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime.

Did you know….. Of those kids who said they abused Rx medications, one in five (20 percent) has done so before age 14.

Did you know….. More than a quarter of teens (27 percent) mistakenly believe that misusing and abusing prescription drugs is safer than using street drugs.

Did you know….. One-third of teens (33 percent) say they believe “it’s okay to use prescription drugs that were not prescribed to them to deal with an injury, illness or physical pain.”

What is prescription drug abuse? The use of prescription medication to create an altered state, to get high, or for reasons, or by people, other than those intended by the prescribing doctor.

What are the risks? Overdosing on prescription pain killers can have harmful effects on the brain and body, even death. Prescription drugs are potentially addictive and relying on medication at a young age may lead to a lifelong pattern of depending on them.

Where are they getting these prescription drugs? The majority of teens abusing prescription drugs are getting them from the medicine cabinets of friends, family and acquaintances.

Are parents educating their children about the risks of taking prescription drugs? Research show that parent are not communicating the risks of prescription drugs as often as they talk about illegal drugs.

If you would like to know more about the B.C. Drug Free coalition or have questions considering   any of the topics on the sheets please contact Rhonda Vaughn [email protected] or Ali Johnson [email protected]