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More teens being prescribed addictive medications

By Staff Writer

More than 62 percent of teenagers say that they can easily obtain illicit drugs from local street gangs, according to Teen Help, a statistics site. Substance abuse programs for youth are geared toward deterring kids from drug use, but many are beginning to find access to them in their own homes.

A new study has determined that the number of young adults who have received prescription medications has doubled over the past 15 years, according to Reuters. One in every nine teenagers was prescribed an addictive medication in 2007, while one in six young adults received similar prescriptions. Painkillers and sedatives, which are highly addictive, were among the most commonly prescribed drugs.

Brandeis University official Cindy Thomas told the news source that these statistics show that frequently abused substances can now be easily found in medicine cabinets across the country. However, study author Robert Fortuna explained to the news source that this does not mean all teens are abusing their prescriptions. The research does not indicate whether doctors should cut back on prescribing these drugs to adolescents.

Parents are encouraged to discard of any unused, old prescription medications that may be used for recreational purposes. Substance abuse programs for youth provide teens with healthy alternatives to drugs.

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