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Abuse of prescription and over-the-counter (Rx/OTC) drugs to by youth continues to be a concern for parents, educators, and local law enforcement across the country. Use of these painkillers by children to get “high” has risen dramatically in recent years with East County rates higher than other parts of the County and statewide. Specifically in San Diego County 19% of 11th graders have used painkillers not prescribed for them compared to 24% in East County and 16% statewide.
Nationally:
- More teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drugs except marijuana (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, NSDUH 2006)
- 2.1 million teens ages 12-17 reported abusing prescription drugs (Ibid)
- Among 12-13 year olds prescription drugs are their drug of choice (NSDUH 2007)
- 1/10 high school seniors report taking Vicodin without doctor’s approval (Monitoring the Future 2007)
In a 2007 nationwide Partnership Attitude Tracking Study youth identified factors contributing to the rising rates abuse of Rx/OTC drugs. Survey results showed that:
- 56% (12.8 million teens) do not see great risk in trying prescription pain relievers without doctor’s prescription
- 41% say they are safer than illicit drugs
- 37% less shame attached to using them
- 31% fewer side effects
- 20% parents don’t care as much if you get caught
How can we build solutions?
Working with concerned community members, Communities Against Substance Abuse has begun to assess and develop strategies to prevent Rx/OTC. In order to assess the problem, in 2008 we worked with the Grossmont Union High School District to add questions specifically related to RX/OTC abuse in the California Healthy Kids Survey (a self-report student survey administered to youth in grades 7, 9, and 11 by local school districts).
The sheer volume of Rx/OTC drugs prescribed by physicians and dentists, and dispensed by pharmacies is vast. When combined with no accessible legal or environmentally sensitive way to dispose of these drugs, the result leads to unused medications in every medicine cabinet across the country, creating easy access for children. Unfortunately, an issue most adults don’t consider.
Communities Against Substance Abuse is moving forward to:
- Update assessment information to ensure that school and youth-serving agency staff can recognize emerging problems.
- Develop messages for Students Together Against Alcohol ‘N Drugs to utilize for peer related outreach as well as the media to demoralize Rx/OTC abuse with children.
- Mobilize local law enforcement, medical, dental, pharmacists, and other providers to craft solutions and reduce the amount of unused prescription drugs prescribed.
- Conduct local Rx/OTC “take back” programs in partnership with local law enforcement targeting local Senior housing complexes.
- Develop information about incidence, prevalence, and resulting problems arising from abuse of Rx/OTC drugs for parents and other adults.
- Build the capacity of communities to reduce youth access to Rx/OTC drugs from both medicine cabinets and places where dealing and abuse occur.
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