"Percosets, Valium, Xanax … pretty much anything I could get my hands on," 17-year-old Mururi Wangu says.

In fact, the number of teens abusing prescription drugs has risen as much as 500% since the mid-1980s. Experts say that one reason for such a dramatic jump in abuse numbers is the availability of prescription drugs.

"This is the age of medication," says Dr. Steven Jaffe, an adolescent psychologist. "I think there's tremendous amounts of all sorts of medicine out there that are readily available in the bathrooms, in the cabinets at home, as well as on the black market."

Moreover, since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves prescription drugs, teens mistakenly believe that using these drugs - even if they don't have a prescription - is safe.

"For a while, I thought prescription drugs aren't as bad because why would the doctor prescribe them if they were dangerous," 17-year-old Marie Bokemeyer says.

Experts say that's why parents should start early with a strong, clear message that abusing any kind of drug is wrong. They should also get to know their teens' friends, limit unsupervised time, keep close track of medications in their homes and don't assume it can't happen to their teens.

"I have a thousand parents who say, 'I didn't know how much my child was in to.' And it's not just denial - teenagers are experts at hiding it," Dr. Jaffe says.

Adds 17-year-old Kat Peterson: "I didn't care about the danger of it; that had no effect on me. It was just the convenience of it."

By Suki Shergill-Connolly, M.Ed.
CWK Network, Inc.

A new study from the Substance Abuse & Mental Human Services Administration reveals that non-medical use of pain relievers and tranquilizers is at a record high, with nearly 3 million youth aged 12 to 17 admitting their abuse of prescription drugs. The findings, based on the 2001 National Household Survey of Drug Abuse given to 69,000 people, also show that the number of kids abusing prescription drugs has risen as much as 500% since the mid-1980s. Consider these additional statistics from survey:

• New users of stimulants increased from more than 200,000 in 1991 to almost 700,000 in 2000.
• New users of tranquilizers have been increasing since the mid-1980s, but the largest increase has been recently, from more than 700,000 new users in 1999 to almost 1 million users in 2000.
• The number of new users of sedatives remained around 100,000 per year between 1988 and 1994. Starting in 1995, the number rose from 111,000 to 175,000 in 2000.
• Between 1998 and 2000, new users of pain relievers among 12 to 17 year olds outnumbered those among 18 to 25 year olds.
• Among youth (aged 12-17), females were more likely to have used prescription-type drugs non-medically in the past year (9%) compared to males (7%). However, among young adults (aged 18-25), males were more likely to have used in the past year (14%) compared to females (10%).
• Among youth, whites (12%) were more likely to have used prescription-type drugs non-medically in the past year compared to Hispanics (8%), blacks (6%) or Asians (5%).
• Youths in non-metropolitan or small metropolitan areas were more likely to have used prescription-type drugs non-medically in the past year (9%) compared to youths in large metropolitan areas (7%).

A companion report, based on 2001 data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network, also points to an alarming trend in drug use. It shows that hospitals logged 90,000 visits for opiate abuse - a 117% rise over the number of visits in 1994.

As a parent, it is important to understand that teens may be involved with legal and illegal drugs in various ways. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) reports that many teens begin using drugs to satisfy their curiosity, to make themselves feel good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to "fit in." While it is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems, the National Institute on Drug Abuse says the following types of teens are at greatest risk of becoming addicted:

• Those who have a family history of substance abuse
• Those who are depressed
• Those who have low self-esteem
• Those who feel like they don't "fit in" or are out of the mainstream

Because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration puts its seal of approval on prescription drugs, many teens mistakenly believe that using these drugs - even if they are not prescribed to them - is safe. However, this practice can, in fact, lead to addiction and severe side effects. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research cites the following most commonly abused prescription drugs:

• Opioids: Also known as narcotic analgesics, opioids are used to treat pain. Examples of this type of drug include morphine, codeine, OxyContin (oxycodone), Vicodin (hydrocodone) and Demerol (meperidine). In the short term, these drugs block pain messages and cause drowsiness. A large, single dose can cause severe respiratory depression and death. Long-term use leads to physical dependence and, in some cases, addiction.
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants: These drugs are commonly used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and sleep disorders. Examples include Nembutal (pentobarbital sodium), Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam). CNS depressants slow down normal brain function and can cause a sleepy, uncoordinated feeling in the beginning of treatment. Long-term use can lead to physical dependence and addiction.
• Stimulants: These drugs are commonly used to treat the sleeping disorder narcolepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Examples include Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine). Stimulants, which can be addictive, enhance brain activity and increase alertness and energy. They elevate blood pressure, heart rate and respiration. Very high doses can lead to irregular heartbeat and high body temperature

How can you determine if your teen is abusing drugs? The AACAP suggests looking for the following warning signs and symptoms in your teen:

• Physical: Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes and a lasting cough
• Emotional: Personality change, sudden mood changes, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression and a general lack of interest
• Familial: Starting arguments, breaking rules or withdrawing from the family
• School-related: Decreased interest, negative attitude, drop in grades, many absences, truancy and discipline problems
• Social: having new friends who are less interested in standard home and school activities, problems with the law and changes to less conventional styles in dress and music

If you believe your teen has a problem with drug abuse, you can take several steps to get the help he or she needs. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests contacting your health-care provider so that he or she can perform an adequate medical evaluation in order to match the right treatment or intervention program with your teen. You can also contact a support group in your community dedicated to helping families coping with addiction.

Substance abuse can be an overwhelming issue with which to deal, but it doesn't have to be. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America offers the following strategies to put into practice so that your teen can reap the rewards of a healthy, drug-free life:

• Be your teen's greatest fan. Compliment him or her on all of his or her efforts, strength of character and individuality.
• Encourage your teen to get involved in adult-supervised after-school activities. Ask him or her what types of activities he or she is interested in and contact the school principal or guidance counselor to find out what activities are available. Sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting to find out which activities your teen is best suited for, but it's worth the effort - feeling competent makes children much less likely to use drugs.
• Help your teen develop tools he can use to get out of drug-related situations. Let him or her know he or she can use you as an excuse: "My mom would kill me if I smoked marijuana!"
• Get to know your teen's friends and their parents. Set appointments for yourself to call them and check-in to make sure they share your views on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Steer your teen away from any friends who use drugs.
• Call teens' parents if their home is to be used for a party. Make sure that the party will be drug-free and supervised by adults.
• Set curfews and enforce them. Let your teen know the consequences of breaking curfew.
• Set a no-use rule for alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
• Sit down for dinner with your teen at least once a week. Use the time to talk - don't eat in front of the television.
• Get - and stay - involved in your teen's life.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Family Physicians
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Drug Abuse Warning Network
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Substance Abuse & Mental Human Services Administration
U.S. Food and Drug Administration