Prescription drug misuse among adolescents is a growing public health concern, as drug overdoses have risen 60% since 1999 and are the second leading cause of accidental death. Current approaches to address the issue include prescription drop boxes for disposal of unused drugs and drug education programs, though the latter have not traditionally focused on prescription drug misuse. Adolescents commonly obtain prescription drugs through sports injuries, though lack of parental monitoring of medication administration is a major contributing factor. Strong parental and school relationships may help prevent adolescent prescription drug abuse according to social bonding theory.

1. Adolescent Drug Use and
Prescription Drug Misuse
Megan Bookey
CJS 490-02

2. Why It’s a Concern
 According to the Center for Disease Control, drug overdoses killed
more than 33,000 people in 2005; up 60 percent from 1999.
 Equivalent of 100 757s crashing and killing everyone on board every
year but is rarely discussed in the news.
 Second leading cause of accidental deaths each year behind motor
vehicle accidents.
(Becker, 2011, pp. 62-63)

3. What is Currently Being Done
About Prescription Drug Abuse?
Prescription drop boxes
Drug education programs (not focused on prescription drug
misuse previously).

4. CurrentWays Drug Abuse is Being
Addressed- Prescription Drop Boxes
NADDI has grant funding available in 2014
for law enforcement agencies who wish to
apply for their own prescription drop box
(www.NADDI.org)
+ Convenient for residents to dispose of
prescription medications no longer used.
+ Some agencies may be able to offer
extended hours for convenience.
- Up to department staff to monitor what is
disposed of in box, at risk of contact with
sharps if directions are not followed on box.
- Department responsibility to
destroy/dispose of according to department
policy prescriptions discarded.

5. Get rid of your medicines www.hennepin.us/medicine
Accepted
Medicine from households will be accepted, including:
• Prescription medicines, including controlled substances
• Over-the-counter medicines
• Vitamins and supplements
• Pet medicines
Not accepted
• No needles, sharps or syringes
Guidelines
• Bring medicines in their original packaging or container
• No ID required • Free
Drop box locations
• Brooklyn Center • Brooklyn Park
• Edina • Minneapolis • Minnetonka • Spring Park
Hennepin County Drop Boxes

6. • D.A.R.E. was found to have no impact after one year of program completion,
resulting in many schools discontinuing the D.A.R.E. program.
• Would D.A.R.E. have had greater success if it was more cumulative and was
incorporated into several years of health curriculums with different phases of
information?

7.  Adolescents often come into contact with prescription
drugs as a result of a sports related injury or other injury.
 Most commonly prescribed areVicodin and Percocet.
 Study in the process of passing a rule in ER to reduce
Tylenol with Codeine prescriptions because of addiction
problems.
 One major factor contributing to misuse is lack of
parental monitoring of administering medications
(Poirier, 2014, personal communication).
 Adolescents also commonly obtain prescriptions
through family members or friends (Becker, 2011, p. 58).
How are Prescription Drugs BeingObtained by Adolescents?

9. What can be Done About Adolescent Prescription Drug Use?
 Hirschi, Social BondTheory, attributes parent/guardian
relationships and school as the two most important
relationships attributed to deviant behavior. Friends are
another important factor.
 Drug awareness programs that promote the danger of
prescription drugs even though they are given at the
discretion of a doctor.
 Changing the anti-drug message to reflect current
concerns relating to the rising numbers of prescription
drug misuse.
 Increasing the number of local organizations as support
groups for those who have family members battling
addiction or have lost their lives as a result of addiction.

10.  Encouraging more secure locations for prescription drop
boxes to reduce access to unused prescription drugs.
What can be Done (cont’d)

11. Why Did I ChooseThisTopic?