Parents and caregivers have real power in influencing the decisions teens make for themselves.—PATS 2008

• Nationally 1 in 5 teens (19%) report abusing prescription drugs that were not prescribed to them.
• 78% of parents talk to their children about alcohol and illicit drugs but only 24% talk to them about the dangers of prescription drugs
• Teens who learn about the risk of drugs at home are 50% less likely to use drugs.

Prescription and OTC medications were the most commonly abused drugs by high school students after marijuana.

• 5.5% of 12 graders reported past year abuse of cough and cold medicines
• 20% of teens shared a prescription drug
• 20% admitted to borrowing a Rx Drug
• Many teens feel that prescription drugs are “safer to use” than street drugs
• Most get them from friends and family medicine cabinets.
• Teens now report that prescription drugs are easier to get than beer

What can parents do?

• Monitor the drugs in your home
• Track and count how many pills you have
• Lock up or hide medications. Do not store medications in the "medicine cabinet"
• Dispose of medications properly
• Talk to friends and family (even grandparents) about securing their medications
• Do not discuss medications you are taking
• Don’t forget about pet medications
• Lead by example

Pill Identifier Website
How to talk to your teens about drugs
Video clips about Rx Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse 
Empowering parents to prevent abuse of alcohol
Information about teens, parenting, alcohol and drugs