Half of Adolescents Misuse Prescription Medication

According to a study conducted by Quest Diagnostics, one in two patients between the ages of 10 and 17 are misusing their prescription medication. The misuse is defined as the patient either combining prescribed medications with non-prescribed medication or skipping doses.

Although these adolescent patients are still misusing medication, the age group has improved over the last four years. In 2011, 70 percent of adolescents were identified as misusing medication. Now that number is down to 52 percent.

The study tested over 2.5 million people of all ages across the United States. It found that the number of adolescents misusing medication matches the overall number of people misusing medication, which was 53 percent in 2014. The most commonly abused drugs were oxycodone, opiates and marijuana.

Substance abuse and misuse affects all ages. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact Seabrook today at (888) 223-0298.