Troubled Teens Resources

“John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy, said, “While destructive street drugs like meth and crack produce gruesome news images and headlines, prescription drug abuse has quietly become a major part of our Nation’s addiction problem. Too many Americans, and increasingly, too many young women, simply do not know the addictive potential of these medicines.”
(source)

Teen Girls Exceed Teen Boys in Script Abuse

The same report goes on to describe an emerging trend. Women have always comprised the minority when it comes to addictions and deaths associated with street drugs. They are now, however, in the lead when it comes to incidents of prescription drug abuse. Teen age drug abuse is represented in those figures as well.

“… when it comes to teen prescription drug abuse. Nearly one in ten (9.2 percent) teen girls report using a prescription drug to get high at least once in the past year, compared to one in 13 (7.5 percent) teen boys.”

Theories describe young teen girls as more vulnerable because, while boys drug use has to do more with “sensation seeking”, females tend to be trying to fulfill emotional and psychological needs, a type of self- medicating

“…females abuse drugs and alcohol to increase confidence, reduce tension, cope with problems, lose inhibitions, or to lose weight.”

Basic Guidelines

Some basic suggestions for parents, especially as prescription drug abuse pertains for young girls :

• Address negative self esteem or body image issues
• Never share medications or use them outside of a physician’s care and supervision
• Closely monitor and regulate the supply of prescription drugs in your home
• Properly dispose of any unneeded or expired prescription drugs

The Office of National Drug Control Policy offers a great deal of relevant information.