Teens and Prescription Drugs

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, teen drug use is down. However, a number of teens view abusing prescription drugs as safer than illegal drugs. This report examines this emerging threat by seeking to identify trends in the intentional abuse of prescription drugs among teens.

The following is a summary of their findings:

Teens are turning away from street drugs and using prescription drugs to get high. New users of prescription drugs have caught up with new users of marijuana.

Next to marijuana, the most common illegal drugs teens are using to get high are prescription medications.

Teens are abusing prescription drugs because they believe the myth that these drugs provide a medically safe high.

The majority of teens get prescription drugs easily and for free, often from friends or relatives.

Girls are more likely than boys to intentionally abuse prescription drugs to get high.

Pain relievers such as OxyContin and Vicodin are the most commonly abused prescription drugs by teens.

Adolescents are more likely than young adults to become dependent on prescription medication.

Click here to download the entire report.

Local Restaurant’s Alcohol License Revoked

The AJC reports that a Cobb County restaurant has had its alcohol license revoked after pictures of underage drinkers were posted on Facebook.  For the entire article, click here.  This is not the first time that Facebook has helped aid authorities in identifying participants in illegal activities.