Prescription drug abuse

Prescription drug abuse killed three times more Coloradans than drunk driving last year and it continues to be a growing problem, especially among teenagers.According to Peer Assistance Services 49 percent of drug related deaths in the city of Denver between 2003 and 2008 involved prescription drugs. The concern is highest for high school and college students. In a recent nationwide survey, one out of every five teenagers report abusing medications not prescribed to them. In a separate survey, they revealed, for the first time, that it was easier to get prescription medications than beer. And most of these prescriptions come from either their house or the house of someone they know. According to the same surveys, teenagers tend to feel that prescription medications are safer for two reasons. One--because they are prescribed by a doctor and two--they’ve even seen ads for most of them on TV.
Having an organized program to recycle old, unused prescriptions would help keep drugs out of the wrong hands. In addition, experts encourage parents to treat prescription medication in the house like cash or credit cards. Knowing how many pills you have left in a given bottle, keeping drugs locked up and talking to your children about the dangers of prescription drugs can go a long way toward keeping them from abusing any medication.To help out, organizers have launched a new website including resources for parents, students and others.