Prescription Drug Abuse
Waltham – The Massachusetts Medical Society, the statewide association of physicians, offers this advisory on prescription drug abuse – a serious and growing problem in the U.S.
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that 52 million people age 12 and older have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons at least once. Abuse by young people is particularly alarming: A Centers for Disease Control survey showed that 20 percent of teens said they had taken a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription. A frequent source of these drugs is the home – be it a cupboard, drawer, or medicine cabinet.
If you take prescription medicine or care for someone who does, make sure you keep track of your medicines and store them in a safe place, away from youngsters. If you have unused drugs, contact local officials to see if they offer a drug take-back day or learn how to properly dispose of them at www.fda.gov. For information on preventing and addressing teenage prescription drug abuse visit The Partnership at www.drugfree.org or Parents. The Anti-Drug at www.theantidrug.com
