Prescription Drug Abuse Poses Danger for Youths

Alcohol and marijuana are the traditional intoxicants of choice for young people. Experts are reporting that another dangerous group of drugs, prescription drugs, are becoming increasingly common amongst youths. Read about this.

This past week, Al Gore III was arrested with a smattering of prescription drugs and some marijuana in his possession. Prescription drugs are apparently easy to get a hold of since many youths and their parents are prescribed these drugs legally. Often people don't finish their prescriptions and that leaves the door open for resale and abuse.

Hopefully anti-drug campaigns will recognize this major shift and will respond accordingly. The Cnn.com article cited above indicates that youths often don't deem prescription drugs as dangerous as alcohol and marijuana because prescriptions are provided by doctors. Abuse of these prescription drugs -- even by someone for whom the prescription is proscribed -- is very dangerous. The article also indicate that many youths do not know what pills they are taking. This can lead to the combination of incompatible drugs.

I hope that schools and other government organizations can shift their message to ensure that youths know the dangers they face if they abuse prescription drugs. Likewise I hope that parents recognize the dangers their medicine cabinets pose.