Interactive presentation shows dangers of prescription drug abuse

By Staff Writer

Approximately 2,500 teenagers abuse a prescription painkiller for the first time every day, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

To address this alarming trend, the Cardinal Health Foundation and the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Pharmacy have teamed up to launch the GenerationRx Youth Toolkit, which is an online resource that aims to educate adults about the dangers that prescription medication can have among problem teens. The interactive guide - which is designed for healthcare providers, pharmacists, parents, educators and youth group leaders - contains a variety of talking points and visual aids.

The Youth Toolkit, which can last between 30 and 60 minutes, is designed to help adults give informative presentations to kids. Also, parents and counselors may utilize the program in order to provide help for troubled teens.

A professor at the OSU College of Pharmacy said that more than one-third of teens feel pressure to abuse prescription medication, and about 40 percent of adolescents believe that pills are much safer to abuse than other street drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana.

Students who abuse controlled medication may benefit from wilderness therapy, which aims to promote healthy lifestyle choices.