by Mercedus Long

Created on: March 03, 2010   Last Updated: April 14, 2012

Many parents live under the delusion that drug dealers are those shadowy figures lurking around on street corners looking to sell their kid dope. We have waged billion dollar campaigns against these seemingly faceless people who destroy our families for profit. We pressure psychologists and school therapists for answers to the questions that have been asked for over the past decade; and the responses are always the same. In our misguided attempt to protect our children from the unseen monster, we forget to look into the mirror and recognize the

real problem.

There should not be some huge controversy (confusion) about teen prescription drug abuse. Why, two reasons. One,because everything most teens need to get high can be found in the family medicine cabinet. Your child's new drug dealer is not some faceless person; its you and their grandparents and the parents of friends. Two, while parents are busy waging war against marijuana and cocaine they forget to talk to their kids about the "stash" in their own homes.

There is no controversy as why teens use drugs today, as they are using the same reasons that have been used for generations. They are stressed out behind demands made by parents, teachers, sports coaches and college entry exams. They feel isolated and alone in their problems. Some of them tried prescription drugs because of peer pressure, or curiosity combined with the misconception that prescription drugs were safer than marijuana or ecstasy.

So if the controversy of teen prescription drug abuse is not about the fact that they are using them; and the controversy is not about the reasons behind drug abuse, what is the controversy all about? Pay attention to the details in individual stories. Look past the personal anecdotes and feelings; the answers have been there all along. It generally it boils down to two things.

1. What society says is acceptable

We live in a society that seeks to correct everything from anxiety to weight management by taking a pill. We are swamped with commercials marketing the best pills to lose weight, easy treatments for depression or sway beliefs in certain birth control pills. Think about the toll that takes on a young persons mind.

Feeling Fat- take one of many fat blasting super pills

Feeling to hyper- take a downer

Feeling to down- take an upper

Want to just feel normal- wait a second, there has to be something in this bowl that will do that too.

With so many "experts" touting the latest gimmick medication to treat

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