When it comes to teenage drug abuse, marijuana has long been the most common substance of choice. But reports indicate that marijuana's hold on America's youth continues to be threatened by prescription drugs.

According to a special report on the website of Alabama NBC affiliate Local 15, one of the primary attractions for youth who abuse prescription medications is the surprising ease with which the substances can be acquired:

Where are kids getting their hands on these medications? Often it's in their own home. According to licensed counselor Cathy Clifton: "It's easy to get. They can just take them from mom's purse or the medicine cabinet and sometime parents don't even realize they're gone."

Clifton says with more and more adults taking medication for pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, more abusable drugs are readily available to teens. ...

Clifton has the following advice for parents:

• Keep all prescription medication away from children.
• Closely monitor the number of pills in bottles.
• Throw out any old medication.
• Also closely monitor your children's Internet use.

Labels: prescription drugs

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The number of teenagers abusing medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is up 76 percent since 2002, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics.

These medications are actually stimulants that have a paradoxical, calming effect on hyperactive children. Teenagers who do not have ADHD and abuse these drugs may appear agitated, hyperactive, and have increased pulse and blood pressure.

"Parents should know the risk and benefits of medication, when the child is taking it, and how long a prescription should last," said Jennifer Setlik, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and author of the new study on ADHD drug abuse.

Labels: prescription drugs, adhd, adderall, ritalin, drug_abuse

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One of the more significant challenges in the fight to end teen abuse of prescription medications is the fact that so many young people have such easy access to the drugs via their parents' medicine cabinets.

In the effort to reduce this problem, a CVS pharmacy in Montana has announced that it will accept any medications for safe disposal. A Dec. 3 Great Falls Tribune article provided the following details about the drug disposal program:

People can bring their unwanted medications to CVS Pharmacy in the Holiday Village Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The drugs will be disposed of at no cost, and no questions will be asked of anyone bringing in prescription medications.

The goal of the event is to keep prescription drugs out of the hands of people who might abuse them, health department spokeswoman Kate Marone said.

"A lot of it has to do with prescription-drug abuse becoming such a big problem," she said. "This is a safe way to get rid of (prescription drugs)."

As of 2008, 2.9 percent of children and teenagers ages 12 to 17 nationwide reported nonmedical use of prescription medications, according to the health department. Of those, 62 percent of teenagers claim that they are abusing prescription medications from their parents' medicine cabinets.

Labels: prevention, prescription drugs

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In Ohio, deaths from accidental drug overdoses kill more people than car accidents. The victims vary in age, race and socio-economic status. One thing they have in common, the Port Clinton News-Herald has reported, is that their addictions began as abuse of prescription medication.

Many victims didnt start with the needle, but with pills, often prescribed by a doctor for legitimate reasons. They slipped unwittingly into their addiction. Others swiped drugs from a relatives medicine cabinet, not realizing they would become slaves to the powerful narcotics. Once hooked, they learned to game the medical system to get their fix.

Communities are beginning to notice, and take action against, increased abuse of prescription drugs, but lack of funding makes it difficult. Yet, studies have found that every dollar spent on drug abuse prevention saves about $60 that would have to be spent on treatment.

Labels: prescription drugs, drug_abuse, painkillers

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When Kate Sweeney worked in a medical clinic, she would occasionally have a pharmacists refuse to fill a prescription out of concern that the patient was abusing his medication. Today, several years later, the problem of prescription drug abuse has gotten worse.

Sweeney wrote about rising rates of prescription drug abuse in the Nov. 11 edition of the Lake County (Calif.) Record-Bee:

Prescription drug abuse is not a small problem in the United States. Not only do adults abuse controlled substances, but so do middle school and high school students.

"In 2008, 15.2 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed," according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded 2008 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 2.9 percent of eighth-graders, 6.7 percent of 10th-graders, and 9.7 percent of 12th-graders had abused Vicodin and 2.1 percent of eighth-graders, 3.6 percent of 10th-graders, and 4.7 percent of 12th-graders had abused OxyContin for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.

Labels: prescription drugs, drug_abuse

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has teamed up with the National Council on Patient Information and Education to launch a new campaign about teen prescription drug abuse. The campaign  Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer  aims to give adults the tools they need to help prevent prescription drug abuse among teenagers.

"Although the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs among youth has declined from 2002 through 2008, over this time many teens have turned to misusing prescription drugs, according to SAMHSAs National Survey on Drug use and Health," a press release announced. "In fact, prescription drugs are misused more by this age group than any illicit drug, except marijuana."

Surveys have found that kids abuse medication, not to get high, but manage their daily lives. Theyre looking for ways to reduce stress, focus during exams or improve athletic performance. These findings emphasize the importance of teaching kids healthy coping mechanisms.

Labels: teen_drug_use, prescription drugs

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Iowa Drug Drop
On Saturday, October 31, five locations in and around Des Moines, Iowa will serve as "drug drops," where medications that are no longer needed can be handed over for safe disposal. The event is being hosted by the Polk County Substance Abuse and Addictions Workgroup.

"Prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse is a growing problem," the Des Moines Register reported in an article announcing the drug drop program. "If you have expired or unused medications dispose of them in an environmentally safe way by bringing them to one of the drug drop locations."

The following locations will host the drops:

• Ankeny Fire Station
• Wadle & Associates, PC (Urbandale)
• Northern Warren Fire Station (Des Moines)
  
• Pleasant Hill Fire Station
• Des Moines Fire Station #6

Keeping out-of-date or otherwise no longer useful medications in the house -- or disposing of them in unsafe manners -- can lead to a number of health and safety concerns, and has been identified as a contributor to rising rates of prescription drug abuse by teens.

Labels: prescription drugs, safety, iowa

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According to a Sept. 29 Associated Press article, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has partnered with the National Association of School Nurses and the National Military Family Association to address concerns about substance abuse among teens of military families:

A key risk factor for children in military families is the fact that teens are more likely to experiment with alcohol or drugs during times of transition  and many military children have experienced multiple transitions as their parents mobilized for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan on top of ordinary military relocations, which happen on average nearly every three years.

Military teens also have easy access to prescription drugs, as many war veterans are being treated for physical or mental illnesses, the AP reported. The campaign will make resources available online, which parents can download and use to start conversations with their kids.

More information on this effort is available at www.timetotalk.org/military.

Labels: prevention, prescription drugs, military families

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The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued a 304-page report on drug and alcohol use in 2008. There were few surprises or changes in the rates of use from other years.

• The use of illegal drugs among teenagers has remained about the same since 2005.
  
• Among children ages 12 to 17 years old, 11.6 percent used such drugs in 2002, compared to 9.3 percent in 2008.
  
• Use of prescription drugs for non-medical reasons dropped from 4 percent in 2002 to 2.9 percent in 2008.

However, among people above the age of 12 years, the non-medical use of painkillers is an area of concern, according to the report. About 2.18 million people tried these substances for the first time in 2008.

When it comes to other forms of illicit drug use, marijuana and inhalants remain the most popular choices, SAMHSA reports:

• People under 18 years old tend to use marijuana and inhalants more than other illegal drugs.
  
• The average age of trying these two drugs is about sixteen years old.
  
• The average ages for trying heroin and tranquilizers are 23 and 24 years old, respectively.
  
• People start experimenting with Ecstasy, stimulants, cocaine, and LSD around ages 19 to 20.

Problem drinking among college students remains a concern:

• Among full-time students ages 18 to 22 years old, 61 percent were drinkers, 41 percent were binge drinkers, and 16 percent were heavy drinkers.
  
• The rates for those in that age group not enrolled in school were 54 percent drinkers, 38 percent binge drinkers, and 13 percent heavy drinkers.
  
• Sixty-eight percent of college graduates drink compared to 37 percent of non-graduates. However, non-graduates had higher rates of binge and heavy drinking.

Labels: drug use, marijuana, inhalants, prescription drugs, underage drinking, binge drinking, research

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Adderall, a stimulant drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children, is becoming a problem on college campuses.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 6.4 percent of students use Adderall for non-medical reasons, with the most common being to get through finals week on very little sleep. Some graduate students and professors are also taking the drug to enhance their academic performance.

Many university health centers are aware of the Adderall problem, and are taking measures to combat it. Doctors are familiar with students who fake ADHD symptoms in order to obtain prescriptions for the drug.

The most common way to get the drug, many students report, is from other students who already have a prescription. These stockpile their supplies and sell their excess medication.

Some students who abuse Adderall report having withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches and lethargy, once they stop using the drug.

Labels: prescription drugs, adderall, abuse

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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

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According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, 20 percent of all teenagers have abuse prescription painkillers, stimulants or tranquilizers. Young people are turning to prescription medication because they wrongly think these substances are safer to abuse than are illicit drugs.

Writing in the Alternative Health Journal, AHJ editor Sylvia Anderson addressed the problems that can result from this misguided mindset:

Using prescriptive drugs for the wrong reasons can lead to very serious health risks especially if taken with other substances like alcohol, antihistamines, and ... depressants.

Moreover, there are many variations of the same medication and the abuser may not be aware of which one they have taken, how long it will remain in the body and the dangers of it interacting with other chemicals. ...

Taking prescriptive drugs in the wrong way can manifest into very dangerous consequences. For example, Ritalin seems harmless for children with ADHD but it is extremely harmful when snorted or injected.

Abusing painkillers to get high is like abusing heroin because both contain opiates. Since many pills look the same, the dosages manifest in varying effects from mild to lethal.

A teenager who is abusing prescription medication will try to hide the abuse. A change in behavior, change in friends, drop in grades or changes in mood could all indicate that a teen is abusing medication.

Labels: prescription drugs, abuse, signs

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Prescription Drugs Leading Killer in NC Counties

In Northwest North Carolina counties, someone dies almost every week from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. Wilkes County, North Carolina had one of the nation's highest rates of prescription drug-related deaths in 2008.

It's a trend shared by other rural counties in Northwest North Carolina. There were more than 22 deaths per 100,000 people in parts of the mountains and foothills in 2006-2007, compared with 10 deaths per 100,000 in the rest of the state, according to the N.C. State Center for Health Statistics.

In Surry County, Sheriff Graham Atkinson said that prescription-drug overdoses are one of the most serious drug problems they have. ...

He's infuriated about thieves who target elderly people who have legally prescribed medication for legitimate use. "We've had older folks tell us they hide their medicine in their underwear to keep their grandkids from stealing it," he said. (Source: Winston-Salem Journal, June 10)

Wilkes County Sheriff Mastin told reporter Monte Mitchell that the current economic downturn is making the prescription drug abuse problem even worse.

Experts warn that people who are using prescription medications for medically authorized purposes need to properly dispose of any unused so the drugs don't end up in the hands of someone who will misuse them. Adults should also always monitor how much medication they have left, so they know if any is missing.

Labels: prescription drugs

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The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the fight against teen substance abuse cannot include strip-searches in cases that don't involve reasonable suspiscions or risks of imminent danger.

The victor in the case was Savana Redding, an Arizona teenager who was 13 years old when she was strip-searched by school personnel.

School authorities suspected that Redding was bringing an over-the-counter painkiller (Advil) to Safford Middle School, and supplying friends with it. The school principal made Savana submit to a search that included removing her undergarments. No drugs were found.

"What was missing from the suspected facts that pointed to Savana was any indication of danger to the students from the power of the drugs or their quantity, and any reason to suppose that Savana was carrying pills in her underwear," Justice David Souter wrote in the majority opinion.

The justices who dissented said that the decision could work against school authorities who trying to keep drugs out of their schools.

Labels: prescription drugs, courts

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Nicholas Blocks grandmother doesnt think he would have wanted his friends to wear black to his funeral. So shes asked them not to. Nick died of a drug overdose earlier this month, and his friends are helping plan the funeral.

"Nicks grandparents gave their blessing for his friends to organize a Celebration of Life service at the North Jetty in Venice beach," The Charlotte Sun reported. "There, his friends will remember Nicholas."

The circumstances surrounding Block's death were described in a June 28 article on the HeraldTribune.com website:

On Friday [June 26], the Herald-Tribune reported that an autopsy showed the teen-ager had opiates, cocaine and tranquilizers in his system. Those findings are consistent with reports from witnesses and police that Block had snorted crushed oxycodone, a potent narcotic painkiller, prior to his death.

The circumstances surrounding Block's death indicate how accessible powerful prescription drugs have become. When police found Block's body, they also found supplies of oxycodone, evidence of illegal drugs and his mother, who was unconscious. Witnesses told police that, on the night of the death, Block asked his stepfather for oxycodone. ...

Last week, Block's mother and stepfather -- Linda and Billy Jack Courtright -- were charged with conspiring to sell oxycodone, in addition to previous charges of child neglect.

Block's friends are also helping pay for his funeral, which will cost about $3,000, and which his grandparents  who raised him  cannot afford.

Labels: prescription drugs, death, overdose

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The rate of teen prescription drug use in South Wood County, Wisconsin, is higher than the national average. DaNita Carlson, health educator for Wood County, wants parents and teens to better understand the dangers of teen prescription drug use, and take steps to prevent abuse.

"Prescription drugs are particularly dangerous when young people indiscriminately mix and share them, or combine them with alcohol or other drugs," Carlson said in an interview with the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune. "Prescription drug misuse in teens is particularly problematic because adolescence is the period of greatest risk not only for drug experimentation but also for developing addiction."

Carlson urged parents to educate themselves not only on what types of drugs kids are abusing, but where (and how) the young people are getting these substances.

Labels: teen_drug_use, prescription drugs

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Schools in Oakland County, Michigan have seen a decrease in many types of drugs. But theyre seeing an increase in the use of prescription drugs among teenagers. To try and combat the problem, the county uses K-9 police units to conduct drug sweeps in the schools.

According to Sgt. Joseph Lambourn, acting coordinator of the K-9 units, all school requests for drug sweeps go through him. Ill bring in all the dogs for a full-scale search, he said. Depending on the schools request, we search cars, lockers, and/or backpacks. -- Source: The Spinal Column (Walled Lake, Mich.)

Though the county relies on drug sweeps as part of its overall effort to fight drug use, recent budget cuts have reduced the frequency of the searches.

Are you worried that your teen might be abusing prescription medications? If so, education is your first step: Take a few moments to learn about the signs, symptoms, and dangers of teen prescription drug abuse, as well as the intervention and treatment options that are available to help your family.

Labels: prevention, teen_drug_use, schools, prescription drugs

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As the economy worsens, crime increases. The West Virginia State Police are noticing a particular increase in the number of drug related crimes, which is cause for concern because of the potential for damage to citizens' health and the state's financial well-being.

The state's direct costs are more than $470 million for substance abuse per year, and are borne by the criminal justice and jailing systems, according to Wayne Coombs, director of the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center. (Source: WTRF Channel 7)

The Prevention Resource Center is at the heart of the state's attempts at creating an effective prevention system. The Center's current focus is prescription drug abuse which, according to State Police Spokesman Sgt. Michael Baylous, is near epidemic levels. Center officials hope to be able to identify those at risk of prescription drug abuse, and intervene before the abuse starts.

Labels: prescription drugs, drug_abuse

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The mother of a Minneapolis elementary school student is demanding answers after she discovered that her daughter's ADHD medication had been stolen and replaced with something different:

For the past two years, 8-year-old Se'ray Andrews has been taking the prescription drug Adderall to control her ADHD.

But last week, her mother was notified by her school that someone had swapped out her medication and replaced it with something else.

Se'ray was taken to the Poison Control Center at Hennepin County Medical Center. But they could only identify the switched blue pill as some type of herbal supplement. Her doctor called the incident an "alarming breach of protocol" that placed Se'ray in "potential danger." (Source: MyFoxTwinCities.com)

School policy states that medication is supposed to be registered with the school health office, but in Se'ray's case, the medication had been given to a teacher.

In the wake of a recent increase of cases involving prescription pill abuse, experts advise all parents to keep a close eye on medications that have been prescribed for themselves and their family members.

Labels: schools, prescription drugs

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Not all teenage parties feature pizza and and soda. Some, instead, feature prescription pills. These so-called called "pharm parties" (short for " pharmaceutical parties" are obviously a significant risk to the health and well-being of teen attendees.

A recent Virginia event was designed to educate parents about the health risks of teen prescription pill abuse -- risks that their children may be facing

The trend was brought home earlier this week, when news reports focused on students at two Henrico [Virginia] middle schools sharing the prescription drug Adderall with friends.

Henricos Too Smart [2 Start] Coalition held a Town Hall meeting ... at Hermitage High School to draw attention to what appears to be a growing national problem. (Source: The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch)

Most of the parents who attended the Town Hall meeting seemed aware of the problem and were hoping for solutions, the Richmond Times reported. Guest speaker Aleta Meyer emphasized the importance of locking up medications and being aware of the types and quantities of medications in the house.

Labels: teen_drug_use, parental_involvement, prescription drugs

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On April 13, a new set of federal regulations went into effect in the United States in an effort to control the Internet-based sale of prescription medications. The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 aims to prevent illegal online sales and purchases of these commonly abused substances.

Unscrupulous or 'rogue' Internet pharmacies exist to profit from the sale of controlled prescription medicines to buyers who have not seen a doctor and don't have a prescription from a registered physician. The pharmacies lack quality assurance and accountability, and their products pose a danger to buyers. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)

The new set of regulations includes a requirement of at least one face-to-face meeting between patient and doctor before a prescription is given, and the registration of online pharmacies.

Labels: laws, prescription drugs, drug_abuse, internet

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While use of illegal drugs has been declining across the nation, the illegal use of prescription drugs has been on the rise. The state of Michigan is among the states that rank highest for illegal prescription drug use among teens, with recent studies claiming that 12% of Michigan teens use prescription drugs to get high.

"Although millions of Americans benefit from the proper use of prescription drugs, they can be dangerous when taken without medical supervision or mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Teens who abuse prescription drugs to get high can suffer serious consequences including addiction, strokes, seizures, comas, and even death."

Many teens are migrating to prescription drugs because they're easier to get, and teens make the incorrect assumption that prescription drugs are safer than their illegal counterparts. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, prescription drugs, teenagers

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The drug is nicknamed "dex", but is commonly known as Dextroamphetamine or Dexedrine. It's a stimulant that prescribed to patients who have ADHD, but some Canadian college students have begun using it to help them cram for finals.

"One first-year U of C business student told a Calgary TV station that he buys Dexedrine for $5 a pill from a friend with ADHD. He said dex keeps him extra-focused for hours of hard-core studying and also while he's writing exams."

One of the dangers of misusing Dexedrine is that is can aggravate existing medical conditions like high blood pressure, and there is a risk of psychological addiction. Read more at EdmontonSun.com.

Labels: students, prescription drugs, stimulants

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The teenager that once openly shared the details of his life, now takes to locking his bedroom door. He begins sleeping in late and goes about the house with a glazed look. There are suddenly new friends on the scene but you don't know their names or their numbers. Read more online.

Labels: alcohol, prescription drugs, legal drugs

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Hannah Wineberg struggles with ADHD. In order to get the medication she needed, she had to endure hours of testing to confirm her ADHD. So it frustrates her to learn that young people fake ADHD in order to get and abuse the same prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse is becoming increasingly popular.

"In the same study conducted by Partnership [for a Drug Free America], the number of teens reported to have tried prescription drugs exceed those who have used cocaine, ecstasy, and crystal meth..."

The main reason prescription drug abuse has increased so dramatically is because it's easy to get. There's also a false sense of security associated with using prescription drugs. The belief is that, because they're prescribed by doctors, they're safer than illegal drugs. Read more from The Spokesman.

Labels: prescription drugs

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The Center for Disease Control, after reviewing death certificates from 1999 to 2004, has determined that accidental overdose is now the nation's leading cause of accidental death. They attribute the rise, in part, to an increase in prescriptions for drugs like oxycontin and vicodin.

"'The broadest newest development in substance abuse in America is the intentional abuse of medicine,' said Stephen Pasierb of the Partnership for a Drub Free America. 'It's gone from subset to a whole tier of abuse.'"

This new tier of substance abuse is more common than the use of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy, and is believed to have contributed to a 113% rise in teenage fatal drug overdoses. Read more at WSAW.com.

Labels: prescription drugs, overdose

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A year ago, most city, county, and sate officials were concerned with teen use of things like marijuana and cocaine. Though use of those drugs is still an issue, more and more people are becoming aware of the increased abuse of prescription medication.

"According to an analysis of national surveys prepared by [John] Walters office, 2.1 million teenagers abused prescription drugs in 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available."

The increased used is primarily attributed to accessibility and the misconception that prescription drugs are safer. Read more at TheOaklandPress.com.

Labels: prescription drugs, teenagers, abuse

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Why are so many people, especially teenagers, becoming addicted to prescription painkillers? According to a new article in the Washington Post, experts are pointing to four main reasons.

1. The first reason is that people who are not in any pain often experience intense feelings of euphoria and well-being when they take opiate painkillers. They often become addicted to these substances, not realizing how closely related they are chemically to opium and heroin.

2. The second reason is that many believe these drugs are safe because they are available only by prescription. Street drugs, on the other hand, can contain dangerous fillers or impurities that are extremely toxic to the human body.

3. The third reasons is that doctors are writing more prescriptions for painkillers than ever before. According to Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the number of prescriptions for opiate painkillers has gone from 40 million to 180 million in the past 20 years.

4. Finally, there are no government entities in most states that do a good job of monitoring prescription drugs. Only a few states have data bases that keep track of them, and most do not monitor the disposal of leftover pills. This enables people to "doctor shop" or obtain them in emergency rooms.
 

Labels: prescription drugs, causes_of_teen_substance_abuse, painkillers

Posted By: Adolescent Substance Abuse 1 Comment

For years, college students have been abusing ADHD drugs, especially during mid-terms and final exam weeks. Many say the drugs help them focus and retain information better, especially when they’re studying late at night. But a new drug is hoping to turn kids away from ADHD meds.

“A new ‘smart pill’ called Profiderall is available online to deter students from taking un-prescribed and illegal doses of ADD/ADHD medication… [It] has been developed according to Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act regulations enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It combines complex energy enhancers with nootropics.” [Source: The Daily Evergreen (WA)]

Nootropics are said to be some of the safest compounds developed for use as attention- and energy-enhancers. They are believed to improve neural and vascular functions, which in turn help improve cognitive abilities. Some argue, however, that creation and marketing of drug merely encourages young people to rely too heavily on medications and legal drugs.

Labels: drug use, students, prescription drugs

Posted By: Adolescent Substance Abuse 1 Comment

Pediatricians want children to view fewer advertisements for cigarettes, alcohol and prescription drugs.

Among the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics are the following:

• Limit advertisements on television if 10% or more of the audience consists of children
• Launch a new government anti-smoking and anti-drinking campaign aimed at teenagers
• Ask parents to supervise their children's use of media
• Restrict erectile dysfunction messages for broadcast only after 10 p.m.
• Begin a debate about the wisdom of advertising prescription drugs.

"Alcohol remains the greatest public health problem, and it remains the most lethal drug for young people," said Dr. John Knight, Director of the Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research at Children's Hospital of Boston. "Advertising glamorizes alcohol and really primes our kids to think they can't have fun unless there is booze."

The recommendations appear in the journal Pediatrics.

Labels: alcohol, prescription drugs, cigarettes, media

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