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<\/a><\/p>\nHow can parents keep kids safe in light of the growing prescription <\/span>misuse trend<\/span><\/a>? <\/span>This guide will give you a starting point for new conversations with your teen, ideas for further research, and tips on how to keep your children safe from prescription misuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>World Health Organization<\/span><\/a> (WHO) defines drug misuse as \u201cthe use of a substance for a purpose not consistent with legal or medical guidelines.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>Drug Enforcement Agency<\/span><\/a> (DEA), prescription medications are commonly misused by teens, following marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and alcohol as the top substances for this age group.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Prescription drug misuse accounts for <\/span>more than 35%<\/span><\/a> of opioid drug overdose deaths in the U.S., and most of the teens who misuse drugs get them free from <\/span>people they know<\/span><\/a> rather than buying them illegally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While any drug has the potential for misuse, the DEA shares that most fall into these <\/span>three categories<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n All medications are drugs and therefore have the risk of causing harm to those who take them, even when carefully prescribed and taken as directed. This is why patients taking controlled prescriptions often go through additional checks and oversight by their provider to make sure the continued use is appropriate. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists work together to<\/span> check the dosage, monitor the drug effects on the body, and run tests to make sure the medicine isn\u2019t doing damage. <\/span>If the drug isn\u2019t working as it should, adjustments may be made.<\/span><\/p>\n For teens using a prescription they <\/span>weren\u2019t prescribed, there is no medical supervision being offered by a healthcare provider.<\/span> They might not take an appropriate dosage or understand the potential for side effects. They don\u2019t have an expert to turn to if something goes wrong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The signs of prescription drug misuse can be subtle. Parents, schoolteachers, and trusted adults may be able to stop prescription drug misuse in teens by knowing the potential signs and physical symptoms.<\/span> For example, if your child is misusing prescriptions, you may notice changes in their behavior<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Physical symptoms may depend on the drug that was taken:<\/span><\/p>\n Mental symptoms may depend on the drug that was taken:<\/span><\/p>\n If you recognize any of these signs and symptoms in your child, it\u2019s important not to panic. This list should be considered a guide and not a definitive diagnosis. Even if your teen <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> actually misusing drugs, he or she needs you to be a reliable and caring adult presence who can provide the truth about prescription drugs and the potential dangers of prescription drug misuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teens do listen to adults around them, and you can have an impact\u2014statistics prove it. Kids are <\/span>50% less likely to use drugs when their parents regularly discuss the dangers with them<\/span><\/a>. Often, teenagers are more rational than we expect them to be and are receptive to positive influence even if they don\u2019t outwardly show it. <\/span><\/p>\nWhat is prescription drug misuse?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Most commonly misused prescriptions<\/span><\/h2>\n
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The dangers of misusing prescriptions and over-the-counter medications<\/span><\/h2>\n
Prescription drug misuse signs and symptoms<\/span><\/h2>\n
Signs<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Physical symptoms<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Mental symptoms<\/span><\/h4>\n
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Additional considerations<\/span><\/h4>\n
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How parents can help prevent teen prescription misuse: Scripts for parents, teachers, and mentors\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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