19 Aug A Common Menace: Prescription Drug Abuse in Teens
There’s a new menace sweeping the nation, affecting teens and adults alike. Prescription drug abuse in teens is a growing threat to the health and wellbeing of young people around the country. Unlike other substances, prescription drugs are easily attainable and are prescribed for common maladies and sports injuries. Because of this, more and more teens are becoming addicted to prescription drugs and prescription drug abuse in teens is growing rapidly across the country.
Spotting symptoms
Symptoms and signs of prescription drug abuse in teens vary depending on the type of drug used, the amount of the drug used and whether or not teens used the drug with another drug. Common symptoms of prescription drug abuse in teens can be broken down by the kind of drug used, these include: Photo Source: Flickr user – Deanslife Prescription painkiller abuse in teens: Anxiety medication and sedative abuse in teens: Stimulant abuse in teens: Other symptoms include: Spotting the signs of prescription drug abuse in teens is crucial to getting your teen the help they need, as quickly as possible. Prescription drug abuse in teens can have some nasty effects. Effects, much like symptoms, vary from drug to drug. Effects for prescription painkillers include: respiratory failure, coma, depression, not able to respond to pain naturally and bad mood swings. Some effect of stimulants include: dehydration, tremors, losing large amounts of weight, malnutrition and aggressiveness. Other long term effects of prescription drug abuse in teens include legal issues, addiction, overdose and even death. Teens who combine prescription drugs with alcohol and other illicit drugs are at an increased risk of overdose. Getting your teen treated is essential to their future success and happiness. A lot of teens believe prescription drugs aren’t a threat to their overall wellbeing. In fact, a recent survey found that 50 percent of teens believe prescription drugs are far less harmful than old fashioned illicit drugs. A 2013 study found that 25 percent of high school students have abused prescription drugs. Informing your teen about the dangers of prescription drug abuse is important to prevent future abuse. If your teen is struggling with prescription drugs, consider sending them to the ViewPoint Center. ViewPoint Center is a teen mental health hospital for teens, ages 12-17. At ViewPoint, teens undergo a diagnostic assessment process that helps them get the treatment they need. For more information about the ViewPoint Center, please call us today at 801-825-5222. 
Damaging effects
Getting your teen help