In Which States Is Teen Prescription Drug Abuse a Widespread Problem?

Teen prescription drug abuse is becoming an epidemic in the United States. See which states are having the most impact from the problem.

 There has been an alarming and deadly trend for our teens in America. It is estimated that 4.9% of teens ages 12 to 17 misused prescription drugs last year alone. Over 1000 die each year from teen prescription drug abuse.

Understanding Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

Teens are high risk for developing an addiction to prescriptions, but why? What is it about these medications that are so appealing to our young people?

1. Easy to Get

For many teens, it's easy to get prescription medications. Many kids get them from their parents or a friend. Doctors are quick to prescribe them to kids for sports injuries, stress, and anxiety.

There is no shortage of prescriptions for these kids. Over 11% of the estimated 202 million prescriptions are written for young patients.

2. Drugs are Used to Cope

Teen prescription drug abuse starts as a coping mechanism to deal with stress or feelings of performance pressure. Kids abuse stimulants to perform well on tests or sports. They turn to drugs to help cope with crippling anxiety or to escape stressful events.

3. Peer Pressure

Teens may turn to prescription drugs if they see their friends using them. Having a parent that abuses prescription drugs factors into the teen's decisions, too. Teens are easily led by peers, and some have an addictive personality disorder.

4. Teens Feel They Aren't Breaking the Law

Many teens feel that abusing a prescription drug is legal. They also feel that prescription drugs are safer to use than illicit ones.

5. Easier to Hide

Pills are very small and easy to conceal. They don't have odors like alcohol or marijuana. They can be taken quickly and in plain sight without raising suspicions.

Is My Teen Abusing Prescription Medications?

Teens frequently give warning signs that they are abusing drugs. Some common signs are:

• Extreme personality changes such as aggression or being withdrawn
• A new friend group
• Secretive behavior
• Unconcerned with hygiene
• Tired or lethargic
• Schoolwork slipping
• Missing valuables in the house

If your teen is using illegal painkillers or some other prescription drug, you need to act quickly to get them into a drug rehab program.  Many times, drug rehab is covered under insurance, as explained in this blog.

States with the Highest Prescription Drug Abuse Stats for Teens

While teen prescription drug abuse is a growing problem across the nation, some states have higher percentages of kids using these drugs than others. The top five states for this type of drug abuse are:

Arkansas:  21.5%

Indiana: 21.4%

Alabama:  19.7%

Colorado: 19.6%

Nevada: 19.4%

Some states have much lower percentages of teens abusing prescription drugs. These are:

Washington: 7.3%

Missouri: 7.5%

Utah: 8.7%

Nebraska: 10.4%

Connecticut: 11.1%

As a general rule, physicians in southern states write more prescriptions than their counterparts in the north. This means that kids can get them far easier in these states than in other states across the nation.

Handling Your Teen's Addiction

If you suspect that your teen is addicted to prescription medications, you need professional help and guidance. Don't be afraid to confront your teen with your suspicions.

To connect with other people affected by teen prescription drug abuse, check out some of our webinars and upcoming events.