According to a recent survey, prescription drugs are quickly
becoming one of the most commonly misused substances among high
school seniors in the United States. The most frequently abused
types of prescription drugs are narcotics such as oxycodone
(OxyContin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin). In fact, studies show
that nearly one in 10 high school seniors have used prescription
painkillers to get high. Teen abuse of over-the-counter (OTC)
medications is growing as well. About one in 14 high school
seniors has admitted to using OTC cough or cold medicines for
non-medicinal purposes. These drugs usually contain
dextromethorphan, which can cause euphoria and hallucinations
when taken in high doses. Experts cite several reasons for the
recent increase in prescription and OTC drug abuse. First,
they're easily accessible; many teenagers get them from friends
or take them from someone's medicine cabinet. Second, many teens
think these drugs are safer than street drugs and think they
carry little or no risk. Sharon Levy, M