(NewsUSA) - For teens, peer pressure or wanting to escape
emotional stress can often lead to prescription drug
experimentation, which in turn can lead to abuse, addiction and
sometimes a drug overdose. According to the National Survey on
Drug Use and Health, 70 percent of children age 12 and older say
they got prescription drugs, not from a drug dealer, but from a
friend or relative. "Each day, more than 2,000 teens begin
abusing prescription medications, believing that doctor-
prescribed medicine is safer to experiment with than illegal
drugs," says Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of The Partnership
at Drugfree.org. "Parents and grandparents take great pains to
prevent poisoning in young children by keeping household
chemicals out of the reach," according to Pasierb. "The same
approach needs to be taken to safeguard medications in the
home." The first step is to get informed about the dangers and
know how to intervene. The website www.RxSafetyMatters.org
provides information to parents and community groups o