Abuse of prescription drugs continues to be a major problem among teenagers although fewer of them are smoking cigarettes, according to the 2008 Monitoring the Future survey released today.
The survey, which has been conducted for 33 years, found that nearly 10% of high school seniors reported nonmedical use of Vicodin and 4.7% reported abusing OxyContin. Both are strong opioid pain pills. Seven of the top 10 drugs abused by high school seniors were prescription or over-the-counter medications.
I had lunch in downtown Charleston yesterday and watched a table of 4 college kids share adderall. One offered and the others accepted like they’d been offered a mint or a stick of gum. I suppose I’m not surprised that they use it, but I was a little surprised at the total lack of concern they showed as far as others knowing about it. They appeared to view it as completely acceptable behavior. Scary.