Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base
Find general information about drug and alcohol use among teens, including the effects, risks, and dangers associated with alcohol and drug abuse.
A few years ago, "Ecstasy" parties were vogue – with teenagers wearing pacifiers around their necks and attending "raves."
The latest fad is "pharm parties" where participants experiment with prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Ritalin, Xanax, and Adderall. Over-the-counter drugs are also vogue, for example, "robotripping" means ingesting cough medicine with codeine.
About one in five school aged children admits to using prescription stimulants, painkillers or tranquilizers to get high, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
"This abuse is a real issue threatening the health and well being of American families," according to Steve Pasierb, president of the Partnership.
Many teens do not realize that possession of a controlled substance is a crime. In some jurisdictions, possession of such substances with intent to sell them carries a sentence of twenty years in prison.
Learn more about "Pharm Parties" and the rise of abuse of prescription drugs at DrugRehabTreatment.com.