The abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise among teens

They are commonly found in most households, often accessible in the medicine cabinet. But studies show the abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise among teens. Some of the ways they're taking these pills is downright shocking. Prescription pills are being bought and bartered by teens across the country. This abuse of pharmaceuticals is called "pharming."

Student Jen Mastrolia, 17, has seen it firsthand. "I seen it being passed around school before I ever tried it. I've seen it switched and traded at the parties," she said.

One of the most dangerous practices happens at those parties. She says everyone pours their pills in a bowl, then swallows a handful of the mixed up contents. "I've watched people start foaming out of the mouth because they don't know what they've taken for anybody to be able to help them."

Many pills have legitimate purposes, including vicodin and zanax. But a study done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University in New York shows more than 2-million teens are abusing them. That number is increasing dramatically each year. Mastrolia says that makes sense based on what she's seen among her friends. She said, "It's way more common than the coke or the methamphetamines or anything like that. It passes all those up."

St. Louis University Professor Sandra Johnson did research for the CASA study. She said, "It makes sense that we would be seeing growth in that area because these kinds of drugs are more available in the home for example than they used to be. And we've got internet pharmacies pouring them into the streets."

Whether it's the parents' medicine cabinet, or a friend's prescription, it was easy access that led Katie Shoemaker to first try prescription drugs. She said, "I hadn't tried this particular prescription before which was percocet. And curiosity, temptation, and stupidity was just overwhelming me. I figure that's what goes through most people's minds."

At 14, Katie is already in recovery. Counselors consider her lucky. They often see much worse outcomes from this kind of experimentation. Dr. Stephen Huss is the CEO of Comtrea which has several drug rehabilitation programs. He said, "They end up in residential treatment programs like Comtrea, they end up in jails, they end up dead."

Beyond the risk to your health, pharmacists warn there are significant legal consequences to pharming too. "It is illegal to transfer one prescription from one to the other. And it's a federal felony offense," said Brett Williams, owner of Williams Pharmacy in University City.

Pharmacists say when you walk out this door, you become responsible for that bottle and the pills inside. They say this is particularly true for parents. They need to be aware of what happens to their drugs. Dr. Huss said, "We certainly don't encourage people to lock up everything in the world but it is ok to put things which are potentially dangerous to their children, out of their reach and out of their temptation."

Jen Mastrolia says the temptation and the pills are everywhere. She said, "I've had parties at my house where there's been people who are like here, and I'm, like, what is this? They're, like, take it, you'll like it." For Mastrolia, things have changed. She's been clean for weeks now and is attending the Logos School which offers extra counseling. The school, too, is trying to promote awareness of the prescription drug problem.

Principal Kathy Boyd said, "Stories like Jen getting on there and talking to her peers and saying it's not worth it. It's just not worth the risks both for your health, but legally and also the toll it takes on you. Mastrolia says she had special motivation to stop using drugs. "The last thing in the world I want is for my little sister to go through anything I went through," she said. She now hopes others will learn the lessons that she has. "If it's not prescribed to you then you shouldn't be taking it." She adds, "I'd never do it again, ever."

At the Logos School, they are taking special precautions when it comes to prescription drugs. In addition to school searches, and special counseling programs, they are also trying to increase parents' awareness of the problem.

Source: RefillPill.com Editors' Choice