3 Ways to Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

by Fusion 360 Studios Digital Marketing Specialists

Prescription drug abuse is a significant problem facing teenagers across the country. From Riverside, CA to the Hamptons, teens are getting their hands on drugs that were not prescribed to them and using them to detrimental effect. How can parents protect their children from the threat of prescription drug abuse, and avoid a trip to their local drug rehab facility?

Keep Prescription Drugs Away from Teens

The easiest way to prevent drug abuse is to limit your teen’s exposure to prescription drugs. The most common avenue for a teen to obtain these kinds of drugs is to get them from friends or family members. Does that weird uncle from Riverside always have pills lying around? Better talk to him about that. Get rid of unused medications, put a lock on your medicine cabinet, and monitor your teen’s use of any medications he or she may have been prescribed. Take unused medications to your local pharmacy; do not flush them down the toilet.

Have a Discussion with Your Teen

Properly talking about prescription drug abuse with your teenager can be even more effective than simply limiting your teen’s access to medications. Teens should know about the dangers of prescription medicines. Make sure to emphasize that just because drugs are prescribed by a doctor doesn’t mean they are safe. Let your teen know that it’s not acceptable to take another person’s medication or share prescription drugs with others. You don’t want him to have to go to rehab.

Set a Good Example

Whether you realize it or not, your teen is always learning from your behavior. Overly casual prescription drug use teaches your child that prescription drugs are not something to be taken seriously. Follow the directions for medication carefully. If you or another family member is regularly downing prescription drugs like they’re candy, stop that behavior immediately.

While teens from Riverside up the West Coast have been ending up in rehab due to prescription drug abuse, your child does not have to be one of them. Follow these steps to minimize your teen’s chance of being a prescription drug abuser.

Natalie Benoy is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Center.