It is no surprise that Teenagers do not like to stand out from the crowd. They like to fit in. They like to be just like everyone else. If you go to a high school, most kids dress alike, have similar hairstyles and even talk alike! Teenage years are hard and the way most kids survive is to blend into the crowd. There is the fear that they will be made fun of or bullied if they are different. It is easier to just go along with the crowd. This is the crucial time where teens are trying to find their identity, but until they are comfortable with whom they are, they generally follow the crowd.
Prescription Drugs have become more popular for several reasons. They are more readily available then street drugs. Doctors are writing more prescriptions for controlled drugs then ever before. In fact, the amount of prescriptions written for controlled drugs jumped from 90 million in 1990 to 250 million in 2010! This is a gigantic increase, and with so many controlled drugs in so many families’ medicine cabinets there is no wonder teens can get their hands on these medications so easily. Teens also have the misconception that prescription medications are not as dangerous or addictive as street drugs. This is not true. It has also become a bit of a pop culture message that using prescription drugs is “cool”.
There are some things we as parents can do to keep our teens from succumbing to peer pressure. Studies have shown that kids who are emotionally and physically healthy and have a strong social network where they fit in are less likely to abuse drugs. It is important to talk to your teen about drugs. The more informed they are, the less likely they will be to sneak your prescription medications. Also, we should be aware of any emotional problems that our teens may be having. Often teens with anxiety or depression are self medicating with prescription drugs. Having your teen involved in sports or dance, or any extra curricular activity is important as well. They have less time to get into trouble, and it can help them find that identity that they have been looking for. Studies have also shown that eating a family meal several times a week, even thought it may be hard with your hectic schedules, can help give a teen a sense of stability and identity. The most important thing we can do as parents is be aware of what our kids are doing and keep lines of communication open.