Canadian researchers have revealed the degree to which sharing prescription medications is contributing the the teen substance abuse problem in the United States. A survey of 529 U.S. youth (ages 12 to 17) found that about twenty percent of them have either lent or borrowed prescription medication.

An Aug. 10 Yahoo! News article provided the following details:

• A third of the teens who took a borrowed prescription did not tell their doctor, the team said in this week's online issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
• About 32 per cent of the youths who took a borrowed medication said they eventually saw a doctor because the drugs did not resolve the problem.
• Earlier research suggests almost 40 per cent of U.S. adults have also lent or borrowed prescription drugs.

The study also found that two in five teens who borrowed medication experienced unexpected side effects. The study's authors concluded that increased efforts to address the prevalence and dangers of sharing medication are warranted.

Labels: teen_drug_use, prescription drugs, research

Posted By: Aspen/CRC