A Young Life Lost to Prescription Drug Abuse

"The Neals' story, as tragic as it is, is not uncommon," observed Dr. Kathleen Brady, who was at the New York meeting and serves as director of the clinical neuroscience division at the Medical University of South Carolina's (MUSC) Women's Research Center in Charleston.

In fact, it is a growing problem, Brady added. She pointed to a 2007 PDFA national survey of the attitudes and behaviors of U.S. families. The poll included 1,000 youths between ages 13 to 18, as well as 600 of their parents.

Researchers found that more than half of the teens who had tried non-prescribed but behind-the-counter drugs believe that prescription medications are safer than so-called "street drugs." Many thought that occasional use of prescriptions meds was not problematic.

"'It's in a bottle, it's prescribed forsomeone, so how can this be as bad for me as cocaine,' they are thinking," Brady noted. "But the fact is, it can be. Because the profile -- particularly when mixed with alcohol and other meds -- is completely unpredictable. And we're talking about kids that wouldn't necessarily consider themselves to be an addict. But you don't have to be an addict to die from this. You just have to do it once."

Teens can often easily gain access to such drugs, the survey showed. Among those who said they had used someone else's prescription medications, 50 percent said they had obtained them from their immediate circle of friends and family.

The desire to party, experiment, and relax were the top three motivations for teens trying out a prescription drug, the survey found. Staying awake, coping with pain and anxiety, and getting more schoolwork done were other reasons cited.

Misinformed or misguided parental attitudes can further exacerbate the problem, the survey found. A little more than a quarter of the parents surveyed said they felt that it was fine to give teens drugs not prescribed for them. Their top three reasons for doing so: to alleviate symptoms after a teen got physically hurt, was not sleeping well, or was experiencing bad menstrual cramps.

"Let's be clear: This is a drug abuse problem that is on the rise, lethal, and solidly middle-class," Brady stressed. "Because that's the medicine cabinets these drugs are in, and that's where the majority of teens are getting them. But that also means that by monitoring what we have in our cabinets, this is a drug abuse problem where we, regular people, can have a big impact."

Gary Neal said he's proud to be part of that effort.

His son's death has caused his family "an enormous amount of grief," Neal said. "But I will never be embarrassed to say that Harrison was my son. Even though he was a drug addict. So, I decided that this is, in some small way, a tribute to him."

He added, "As parents, we have a duty to speak out, to encourage people to educate themselves. And maybe we can help keep one kid away from that medicine cabinet."

More information

For more on prescription drug abuse among teens, head to the Nemours Foundation.

4 Steps to Keep Your Kids Safe From Rx DrugsThe White House Office of National Drug Policy's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has some valuable guidance on how you can play a part in stopping this potentially deadly trend. Safeguard all drugs at home. Track how many pills are in a bottle or pill packet, track refills, and be wary if you find yourself refilling a medication more often than expected. If your teen has been prescribed a drug, be sure you control the medication and monitor the dosages and refills. Set clear rules for your kids about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the provider's advice and dosages. Make sure your teen uses prescription drugs only as directed by a medical provider and follows instructions for OTC products carefully. This includes not using with other substances without a medical provider's approval. Teens should never take prescription or OTC drugs with street drugs or alcohol. If you have any questions about how to take a drug, call your family physician or pharmacist. Follow your own rules. That way, you set a good example. If you misuse or abuse your prescription drugs, your teen will take notice. Dispose of old or unused medicines in the trash. Unused prescription drugs can be mixed with an undesirable substance, like used coffee grounds or kitty litter, put in an empty can or bag and thrown away in the trash. Remove any personal, identifiable information from prescription bottles or pill packages before you throw them away. And don't flush medications down the toilet or drain, because the chemicals can pollute the water supply.

SOURCES: Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D., director, clinical neuroscience division, Women's Research Center, associate dean, clinical research, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; Gary Neal, lawyer, Tulsa, Okla.