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Only 6% of Parents are Worried About Teen Rx Drug Abuse-

USNewswire - August 2007

A scant 6 percent of parents are concerned about their children abusing prescription drugs, according to a survey released today by Project 7th Grade, a national program of notMYkid, a non-profit organization devoted to drug abuse prevention among teens.

With statistics showing at least three students in every high school classroom abusing prescription drugs, parents cannot afford to underestimate this threat or leave prescription drug abuse out of conversations when talking to their kids about drugs.

The survey, conducted by national polling firm RT Strategies on August 2- 5, 2007, polled 1,000 adults nationwide as part of Project 7th Grade and First Check's Back to School campaign.

"As parents across the country prepare to send their teens back to school, they must be aware of the potential dangers their children will likely encounter during the school year," said Debbie Moak, co-founder of Project 7th Grade and notMYkid.

"The good news is that we are seeing a decrease in the use of some traditionally popular illicit drugs. The bad news is that teens' use and abuse of easily accessible prescription drugs continues to grow at an alarming rate -- yet parents aren't concerned about that threat.

"We must raise awareness of these drug trends so parents realize that talking to their kids about drug abuse and prevention before heading back to school is on par with buying school supplies -- both are necessary and will lay the foundation for a successful and healthy school year," continued Moak.

Statistics have shown that teens believe prescription drugs are safer than illicit drugs, driving the proliferation of such trends as "pharm parties" where teens mix and trade pills with one another to get high, leading to dangerous and sometimes deadly outcomes. Ongoing, honest discussions between parents and their children can serve as a way to teach children about the perils of drug use, help them find the best ways to turn down offers to try drugs and also give parents insights into the peer pressures that kids face at school each day.

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