Study: One in nine U.S. teenagers prescribed controlled drugs

By Staff Writer

Approximately one out of every nine teenagers in America are prescribed medication that has the potential for abuse, a new study reveals.

According to Reuters, researchers from the University of Rochester found that about 11 percent of adolescents are prescribed drugs, such as pain killers, sedatives and stimulants, while about 17 percent of young adults are granted access to these potentially addictive substances. The study does not mean to indicate that every teenager who receives the medication will either abuse it or pass it on illegally, but researchers believe it reinforces the need to know how easily accessible the drugs are among teens.

The lead author of the study told the news source that physicians who prescribe controlled medication should openly discuss the risks and benefits of the drugs with each patient, as well as monitor their symptom progress and whether the drugs are being used as ordered.

In 1994, only 6 percent of teens received a prescription for a controlled substance, which means that the total nearly doubled in 13 years. The report says that the most frequently received medications are pain relievers for muscular pain and injury, and stimulants are also common for children who have attention deficit/hyperacticity disorder.

According to DrugFree.org, nearly one in five teens - 4.5 million - report abusing prescription medications in order to get high.