Talking Points for Young People

What are they?
Prescription drugs are medicines that are prescribed to a patient by a doctor to manage pain, treat or cure a health condition such as pain, mental disease, diabetes, cancer, or common infections. These drugs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are shown to have medical benefits when prescribed and taken as directed by a doctor. For people who are suffering, these drugs allow them to control their symptoms, cure or treat their diseases, control pain, or fight an infection.

These medicines are only safe when taken exactly as directed by a doctor, healthcare provider, or as indicated on the packaging. This includes following directions on dosages, how often to take these drugs, whether to take them with or without food, and never taking any drug that is not prescribed for you.

Why teens abuse medicines?
Young people believe that using a prescription in not as dangerous as using “street drugs.”

Prescription medicines are easy to find. They can be found in medicine cabinets at home or at a friend’s house, or obtained over the internet.

Did you know it's illegal?
Getting prescription drugs without a prescription, called "diversion," is illegal and may put you at risk for arrest and prosecution. It doesn’t matter how you acquire a prescription medication, using these types of drugs without a valid prescription—written for you—is unsafe and illegal.