What age are teens abusing prescription drugs?
Kids as young as 12 are trying or using prescription drugs non-medically — to get high or for “self-medicating.” Pharmaceuticals are often more available to 12 year olds than illicit drugs because they can be taken from the medicine cabinet at home, rather than marijuana which necessitates knowing someone who uses or sells the drug. Also, pills may have a perception of safety because they are easier to take than smoking pot or drinking alcohol and are professionally manufactured in a lab. Q: What types of prescription drugs are teens abusing? A: The National Survey on Drug Use and Health identifies 4 types of prescription medications that are commonly abused — pain relievers, stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers. Eleven percent of teens (aged 12-17) reported lifetime non-medical use of pain relievers and four percent reported lifetime non-medical use of stimulants. Q: Do different groups abuse different types of medications? A: Yes. Painkillers are the most common pharmaceutical ab
