Every day nearly 2,500 youths between age 12 to 17 abuse a pain reliever for the first time, according to the Parents. Most of the teens abuse prescription drugs than illicit drug other than marijuana. In 2008, there are more than 2.1 million teens of age 12 to 17 reported taking prescription drugs. For the age group 12- and 13-year, prescription drugs are the drug of preference.
As prescription drugs can be easily obtained, children easily gets abused to them. There are many serious health risks associated with abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
The abuse of OTC cough and cold medicines can result in blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, coma and even death. Most of the teens report combining prescription drugs, OTC drugs and alcohol. When these drugs are combined and used, it can result in respiratory failure and death.
Prescription and OTC drug abuse is very addictive. Between 1995 and 2005, treatment access for prescription painkillers was raised to more than 300 percent in the United States.
The best method for parents to avoid abuse of these drugs is to make their children understand they refuse such drug abuse and educate them on the effects it causes, like jail time and probation because abusing drugs which are not prescribed to them is regarded as a crime. Parents should also carefully remove unused drugs or lock the cupboards in which they are present. Most of the parents will not like the concept of locking cupboards as if they do not believe their children, it is better than making those same children to get addicted to these drugs.