The vast majority of teenagers who use drugs do it to relieve school stress, not to have fun, according to a new survey from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. That will surprise most parents. Only 7 percent of parents marked "school pressures" as a reason for teens to use drugs compared to 73 percent of teens in the survey.

The Partnership, a non-profit cooperation between parents, educators, and media professionals, surveyed 6,511 teens and parents.

"A wide disconnect exists between what teens are thinking and feeling and what parents believe about their teens when it comes to attitudes about drug use," according to Steve Pasierb, CEO of the Partnership.

The other reasons teens give for using drugs are "to feel cool" (65%) or to "feel better about myself" (65%). One in five teenager has abused prescription drugs, and over 40 percent believe they are safer to use than illegal ones. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are painkillers like OxyContin.

Labels: drug_use, peer-pressure, stress