Prescription Stimulant Abuse Is a Major Problem According to Teens Recently Surveyed

Prescription Stimulant Abuse Is a Major Problem
According to Teens Recently Surveyed

The results of a new survey reported by Join Together and The Partnership at Drugfree.org has found that 35% of the young adults surveyed, ranging in age from 10-18, think that prescription stimulant abuse is a major problem among their peers. 

Of the teens surveyed, 15% admitted they had used stimulants at some point in their lives, with 7.5 percent reporting they had used stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin in the last month, and 3.9 percent saying the drugs were taken for nonmedical reasons. Results also showed the prescription stimulant rates were up in rural areas.

This study was conducted among 11,000 teens in urban, suburban, and rural areas including Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Houston, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Tampa, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. Researchers visited typical places where youth tend to congregate, such as malls, movie theatres, and skate parks.

The teens were given booklets with pictures of drugs, and were asked questions designed to measure current levels and signals of misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription stimulants. They were also questioned about access to prescription medication – where they got them, how they got them, and how often they took the drugs and why – and asked to suggest strategies to prevent kids from using other people’s medication.

The findings from this survey were announced at a recent annual meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.  Linda B. Cottler, PhD, MPH, and chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health and Health Professions, and College of Medicine at the University of Florida, shared some of the comments and suggestions from the teens surveyed, “Teens said they want to be warned truthfully about prescription drugs, but they don’t want the danger exaggerated. They want to make their own decisions.”

Dr. Cottler warned that the study confirmed how important it is that parents and other family members be cautious about where they leave their medication. She observed, “We need to reduce access and teach young people who are taking prescribed ADHD medication that other kids would like to get their hands on their drugs, so they have to be careful and not share them.”

Data like this reminds us that the problem of prescription drug abuse among teens is very real! It’s more important than ever that we take a more proactive role in educating and preventing teen substance abuse. 

If you would like to learn more about what is being done in our community, please mark September 12, 2013 on your calendar and plan to attend the 4^th Annual Drug Summit.  Call (863) 802-0777 for more information!