Teen Drug Preferences Turn From Street To Scrip

Lock up the medicine cabinet.

A [new report] from the White House indicates that teenagers no longer prefer marijuana and other illegal street drugs when it's time to get high, showing an increasing preference for prescription pills. Director of National Drug

Control Policy John P. Walters is urging parents to be wary of just about everyone, especially your family, since stereotypical drug dealers are not typically the culprits in such prescription drug abuse.

"Parents need to know that teens are turning away from street drugs and increasingly abusing prescription drugs to get high. They should also be aware that suppliers of these drugs might not be sinister characters on the street corner, but are more likely close friends or relatives," said Walters. "Too many young people see popping pills as a painless high."

The report does note that overall teen drug use has dropped 23% over five years, so it's not all suspicious glances at distant cousins.