Do Prescription Drugs Harm More Young Adults Than Illegal Drugs?

With prescription drug abuse on the rise, more and more young adults are placing their lives in danger. A recent study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly one-third of people who are age twelve and overused prescription drugs before using illegal ones. [1]

Regrettably, struggling young adults are often embroiled in addiction to prescription painkillers and other types of legal drugs. Their addiction goes far beyond a physical need; since they have regularly abused the drug, they have developed a strong chemical dependency that can be difficult to overcome.

According to further data collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more people die due to prescription drugs than cocaine and heroin combined. [2] Unfortunately, unsuspecting parents and loved ones often supply a young person’s “fix” because they do not keep their prescription medications locked away. Young adults may acquire prescription drugs from family members and the homes of friends.

Prescription Drugs: Killing More Than Pain

Many parents of young adults have a mistaken notion that prescription drugs are safe because they come from a doctor. What parents do not realize, is drugs can react differently with different people. They can also cause extreme reactions when they are abused. Those most in danger of prescription drug abuse are teens and young adults who are struggling with depression and anxiety. In an attempt to self-medicate, they end up placing their lives in grave danger. [3]

Unfortunately, prescription drug abuse was responsible for being the leading cause of death in 2014.

As further drug abuse prevention programs are put into place, it is hoped teens and young adults will be educated to the explicit dangers of taking drugs that are not prescribed to them.Parents who are watching their child spiral out of control often feel to blame.

It is important for parents to realize drug abuse occurs in young adults from all walks of life. Those in the best of homes and with the brightest of futures are not immune to this deadly addiction. Thankfully, there is help available for young adults who are struggling in life and making poor decisions.

At the Crossroads (ATC) is an Independent Living Program that offers a solution for young adults ages 18-25 who have overcome addiction and needed assistance to transition from adolescence to adulthood. ATC offers a uniquely supportive approach for young adults who have “failed to launch”, or who are still dealing with emotional immaturity that often accompanies recovery from drug addiction.

Not only does ATC address clients attempts to live sober lives, they also help them learn to better cope with any mental health concerns they may have. Through the ATC independent living program, troubled young adults learn the life skills necessary to become self-reliant adults.