Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! I agree that kids are curious and will experiment.
However, I worry about stressful environments like the one at my HS that encourage unhealthy habits just to keep up, let alone flourish. You bring up an interesting point about how we would do well to think about changing the structure of education in general, and this would be an area to consider.

I just wrote an article about the aspirin mask that teens are using to combat acne.

This is very frightening since teems are learning on the internet how to make this concoction which contains of high doses of aspirin.

If you think it’s harmless because aspirin is a over the counter drug dig this:

www.helium.com/tm/820248/treatment-rated-19which-means

There are all sorts of over the counter and prescription drugs up for abuse… and while some drugs are prescribed to the teens and being sold…parents should also keep a check on their old, expired, and forgotten narcotics in the medicine cabinet.

Stress, Stress, and more stress. This is why these kids are chosing destructive behaviors. A caring environment could really solve the stress issues which in turn would help these kids see there are better ways of using their time. A local private HS is probably the worst in regards to students with stress. At least at your local public schools when dealing with problems or concerns about your children you can ask your teachers, counselors, and principles for help. The private setting takes zero responsibility and just doesn't want to be bothered. School environments are a big part of the drug problems some schools are seeing. It takes a village to raise a child. That is the truth no matter who first made the statement.

Whoa...I have never heard of this phenomenon. Thanks for the link!

This is exactly why I joined great schools. I am desperately trying to find help and to understand why my 14 year old daughter is addicted to prescription drugs. Now that I am aware of her problem I have been scouring the internet and every other available resource to understand this growing trend. I want to help educate and make aware other parents in our community. If you would have asked me just a few months ago if I thought teens would steal prescription drugs from their parents medicine cabinets just so they can take them to school to sell them, I would have thought it ridiculous! But that was exactly how it started for my daughter, at the age of 12!

I sympathize with you. I cannot say that I have ever dealt with anything like that. I also have a 14 year old daughter. I constantly try to pay attention to her moods. Just to be aware. I believe it can happen anywhere at anytime. MY advice would be to anyone,absolutely not to leave any perscriptions out for anyone to get there hands on. I mean look at todays society. You can get high off of cough medicine,mouth wash. Crazy

I'm so sorry to hear about this situation for both you and your daughter. I hope you have found supportive medical care for her. Responding to a drug addiction for an adult is very difficult, let alone a 14-yr-old. The fact that one's body and psyche are still developing at that age only makes fighting drug dependence or addiction more difficult.

I recommend, in addition to medical help, that you seek family counseling as well as individual counseling for your daughter. There may be underlying problems that contributed to the drug-seeking behavior. It may be difficult to communicate with one another, and a therapist or counselor with experience treating adolescent addiction (and these folks are out there) can respond to the unique dynamics of your situation as well as teach you constructive coping skills.

I wish you all well.

It has been a very stressful and eye opening month for us here. Our daughter is now in a residential treatment facility and has been for about one month.
I was the "How was your day?", "What's for homework?", "How are you....lets talk", type of Mom. I paid attention to her eating habits, her sleeping patterns, took her to the doctor regulary, and believed I knew what was going on in her life.
I knew she had lost interest in some activities. I attributed this to growing and changing, as we know our teens do. I was aware of her grades slipping. I attributed this to a change in schools and her first year in high school with a more demanding curriculum. I kept making excuses. I was in denial. Not my kid! She is the baby of our family. The intelligent,beautiful, bright-eyed cheerleader, with many friends, a very outgoing, warm personality. She had become so good at lying, hiding, and manipulating, I didn't see what was right in front of me all along.
It can happen to any of us, at any time. Please don't take for granted that you know what is going on in your childs life. I did.
We have found in the last month, that our daughter now has brain damage from the excessive inhalant abuse. She is now functioning at a 3rd grade level; she was abused by a family member and hid this fact from everyone; when high she put herself in a very risky situation to find more drugs, and was raped, she has Bipolar disorder and was "self-medicating" to help control her feelings. Our baby had been going through all of these devastating experiences and we didn't know.
I have learned so much and so has she. I am proud of her for talking to us now and for working so hard to become healthy again.
Please never assume that you know your teen. I did.
Feel free to stop by a blog I have started on this subject and say Hello.
www.teendrugaddiction.blogspot.com

My 14y/o is currently in treatment for OTC abuse. She nearly died on Benadryl OD. My advice to all parents, if it's in the home, do as recommended by drug treatment counselors. Get a tackle box or something like it and a pad lock up all meds, including OTCs. Teens will find anything to get high on. Cold meds are very popular and cannot be detected in urine tests unless specifically tested for. Anything easy to buy at drug counter is dangerous. Remember, CHEESE, or Heroine cut with cold med, is easy to come by. If you suspect something, you're probably right. GET HELP before it's too late.

I can relate to your story. It breaks my heart about your child. We've all been down that road to different degrees. My sorrow is that I know a mom that has had a talk with my family and hers about her teen daughter, and she still won't be bothered to get help. I finally persuaded the grandmother to make an appt for assessment for the girl. Even the threat of death didn't seem to budge this mother. Parents also are resistant to treatment as well as teens. This is why getting help in spite of fear gives empowerment. We must somehow get the message to parents it's OK to be afraid. Your teen will try and probably intimidate you. That's why addiction is a family disease. We all must learn the addicts' tricks, and how to stand strong against them. For their sake. I would like to band with other parents to speak and help parents to take the first step. We must not play the FEAR FACTOR game any longer.

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. I hope that she finds the support and guidance she needs.

Your points about OTC meds are right on the money. This is an article I recommend any parent read about OTC drug abuse.
teendrugaddiction.blogspot.com/2008/02/scariest-drug-epidemic-youve-never.html

Just as these OTC meds are easy to come by and popular for said reasons, inhalant abuse is popular for the same reasons, and they can be found right under your kitchen sink or in the garage.
Now the fastest growing trend with 12-18 year olds, teens are dying at a faster rate than ever before. If you aren't familiar with what inhalant abuse is or which inhalants kids are using please read the article on my blog called "What is Huffing?"
teendrugaddiction.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-is-huffing.html

-55% of deaths associated with inhalant abuse are caused by “Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome.”
-22% of abusers who died of SSDS, had no history of previous inhalant abuse. They were first-time users.

It is never too early to educate yourself and your family. According to the NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) 12% of 12 and 13 year olds surveyed had used an illegal drug.

FYI,
I am artist and I needed to replace a specific type of pen for a project I was doing. I went to the store where I had thought I had bought the pen previously and was frantic when I did not see it. I then asked behind the counter hoping they could order it for me and the women told me that they keep these pens behind the counter locked up because kids buy them and inhale them to get "high". I had no idea. I know that I have to be very careful to be in a well ventilated space when I use art materials like this and I know many artists who where masks and who have long term illness problems from being exposed to vapors from art materials.

We sorta knew this was coming, and have always decided on giving medications to the kids even at the age of 13 and 15. They CANNOT take it by themselves.

In the US we are TOO OPEN to make them independent and on their own. I come from a background where that does not happen this early, and as a result, the issues are fewer.

Either way, I am here, and still imposing my older ways, and it is working since when my son needs tylenol or advil, they come to me to decide the dosage, quantity etc. The same with their prescription medications regularly, as well as when they are sick.

Sorry, if this sounds philosophical, since it is not. I control, and they have obeyed. It works, and that is how 'control' happens. Of course, they have an understanding of how critical medications are to success of 'good living' (to resolve known issues), but they also respect the fact that they are 'a form of drugs'.

Good luck....

Kenny

Its not just aderall or ritalin, kids can abuse any type of perscription drugs. These types of drugs are easy to get. It really is sad the amount of drug abuse at schools theses days. The only thing you can erally do is explain to your kids how bad this is, and you cant pressure your kids so much that they feel that they must stay up, and need to take pills to do so. About half the time kids dont even swollow them, some grind them up and snort it, because it goes into your system much faster, more of a high.

i used to abuse oxycodone and norontin but i stopped sucessfully and now im an all A student!!!!!!!!

My step-daughter was given prescription drugs at school by one of her friends,the friend said it would make her feel better. We knew something was up when we got home by the way she was talking and acting. She was taken to the hospital and then sent to a youth center for 38 days. After getting out and given meds to help her sleep,2weeks later was mad at Dad and took her meds to school, and sold them. I let the school know what was going on and they said they were aware of the problem with drugs, however could only do what they were able to do with the staff vs student ratio. Sounds like a cop out to me. I grew up in a school that had 550 kids in my grad class and our school had NO problem stepping up to the plate to keep the kids safe. Meds are put up now!!!