The Partnership for a Drug-free America
December 2008 – Decoder - Breaking down teen culture, substance abuse, and parenting

Prescription Drug Abuse: Is It Really a Problem?

Dec 17, 2008 by Steve Pasierb | Categories Drugs, General, Prescription Medicine/Rx Drugs

While many people still don’t see the intentional abuse of prescription drugs as a serious problem, one mom I’ve come to know well, Misty Fetko, can tell you just how serious a problem it is.

On the morning of July 16, 2003, two days before her son Carl was supposed to leave for college she found him unconscious and not breathing. As an emergency room nurse, Misty immediately jumped into action trying CPR to save her son’s life – but there was nothing she could do. Carl had died of a lethal mix of Fentanyl (a prescription narcotic) marijuana, and an over-the-counter cough product.

I wish I could tell you that Carl’s story was an anomaly, but our research shows that 1 in 5 teens have abused medicines and most don’t understand the risks. More than half of teens who try this dangerous behavior believe it’s safer than using street drugs, and don’t see anything wrong with abusing them once in a while. These teens are dangerously mistaken.

From 1995 to 2004, the number of deaths involving prescription opiod painkillers increased 160 percent according the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By 2004, the CDC reports deaths from abuse of prescription pain medicines surpassed both heroin and cocaine overdoses as the leading cause of poisoning deaths.

The Partnership was the first organization to identify this alarming trend in prescription drug abuse thanks to research funded by our kind contributors. With a proven track record in helping to reduce the use of illegal street drugs, we are working across the nation to curb the illicit use of prescription drugs. Please let us help you right now with this fantastic new website of ways you can safeguard your home and stop medicine abuse.

This effort can be successful!  Between 1998 and 2001, teen use of the club drug Ecstasy jumped 71%, peaking in 2001. The Partnership began a research-based public education campaign about the dangers of Ecstasy in late 2000, and by 2003, use had plunged as teen’s perception of the risks of using Ecstasy increased over 20% according to the Monitoring The Future study.   (Here’s a dowloadable brochure about “X” if you want to know more.)

We have succeeded in the past and we can succeed again even on a challenge this close to home – so I’m closing by asking for your vital support this holiday season.

I understand these are challenging economic times, and we appreciate your donation more than ever.  Your contribution of $15, $25, or even $50 will enable us to continue our work combating prescription drug abuse so that more young lives aren’t damaged and more parents aren’t confronted with  the death of their child.

Please make a donation today to the Partnership to help us educate parents and teens about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

Thank you.  Happy Holidays!

  • Posted by: Steve Pasierb | 8 Comment(s)
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TTYL: How Generation Text Prefers to Talk

Dec 3, 2008 by Joe Keenan | Categories Advice, Communicating, Connecting, Culture, Internet, Monitoring, Teenagers

Earlier this week, the Partnership released a survey with MetLife Foundation showing that one in four teens would prefer to talk to their parents about drugs and alcohol by using email or their cell phones. Meantime, only three percent of parents want to discuss these subjects by cell or email. I don’t blame them — this is an important issue, and if we’re having anything other than in-person discussions about it, we miss out on that gratifying flicker of recognition that crosses our teens’ faces (after they cross their arms and roll their eyes) that lets us know they hear us, that we’ve made contact.

Nonetheless, the study makes an important point — our teens are part of “Generation Text,” and if we don’t get on board with these up-to-the-minute forms of keeping in touch, we may miss out on everyday opportunities to connect with our kids. While nothing takes the place of a face-to-face update — even if it’s for two minutes as your kid scarfs down an Eggo and runs to school. If you’ve had a tough time talking about drugs and alcohol, sending a text or an email may help break the ice and open the door for a future chat. And if your teen feels more comfortable emailing you about what goes on at school parties or what his friends are up to, be grateful he’s confiding in you, and keep up your end of the email exchange until he’s ready to talk.

Do you email or text with your kids? Do you find it’s helped to break the ice on tough subjects?

  • Posted by: Joe Keenan | 4 Comment(s)
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