Prescription Drug Abuse in Teens: What Parents Need to Know

Although illicit substance abuse is on the decline among youth, there has been a steady increase in the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Teens often perceive prescription drugs as safer, and they are often more accessible. 

Data from 2025 showed that around 14% of high school students reported misusing prescription opioids. And almost 5% of teens have used stimulants such as Adderall as either a study drug or for weight loss [1]. 

The effects of abusing prescription drugs can lead to addiction, stunted brain development, and impaired daily functioning. Teens struggling with prescription drug abuse are at an increased risk of failing out of school, developing mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, and overdosing. 

Read on to learn how to recognize the signs of prescription drug abuse in teens and effective prevention strategies to keep your teen safe. 

Why is Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise?

While rates of alcohol and cannabis use are on the decline, many parents are wondering, why prescriptions? There are a few reasons there has been an increase in prescription drug abuse among youth, these include: 

• Accessibility: Nearly 46% of American adults are currently on a prescription drug such as opioids, stimulants, or sedatives. These make them increasingly available for teens to get from family or friends (knowingly or unknowingly) [2].  
• Perception of Safety: Some teens believe that because drugs are prescribed by a doctor, they are automatically safe or less addictive than recreational drugs. ‍
• Academic Expectations: Teens today are living in a fast-paced, competitive world, and many have turned to stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin for studying and boosting school performance. 
• Mental health challenges: Recent data from 2025 shows 13% of teens 12 and older have experienced symptoms of depression in just the past two weeks, and 1 in 5 suffer from anxiety, yet only 40% receive treatment [3]. 
• Lack of Awareness: Many drug education programs for youth focus on alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, or cocaine. For example, some teens are under the perception that if opioids are prescribed, they are automatically “safe”. 
• Normalization: Current media that youth consume may normalize prescription drug use, particularly benzodiazepines and opioids, through song lyrics, TikToks, and Snapchat stories. 

Common Reasons a Teen May Be Prescribed Medication

Some teens may be prescribed medications that can lead to abuse. However, most medical professionals try to avoid prescribing any of the “big three” addictive medications (opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants) to teens unless necessary. Prescription medications are legal and can be beneficial, but should only be taken under strict medical supervision and with caution. 

Opioids: Prescribed as painkillers, such as in the form of oxycodone or hydrocodone. Doctors avoid prescribing these as first-line treatments for complaints of pain due to “pharming” of healthcare professionals (the practice of faking symptoms for a prescription). However, for more serious injuries such as surgeries or accidents, teens may be prescribed this class of painkillers [4]. 

Benzodiazepines: These are sedatives such as Xanax, Ativan, and Valium, often prescribed for anxiety or sleep disorders. A growing number of adolescent psychiatrists avoid prescribing these to teens, and only as a last resort. 

Stimulants: These are medications such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta prescribed for ADHD to improve symptoms related to focus and memory. Misuse can lead to addiction; however, they are often safe for teens with ADHD when taken under medical supervision and as prescribed.   

Warning Signs and Risks of Prescription Drug Abuse​

Prescription drug abuse can manifest physically, psychologically, and behaviorally. Some signs may look similar to other substance abuse disorders or co-occurring mental health problems. Signs can also vary by drug, for example drowsiness is often a sign of painkiller addiction, while stimulant addiction causes a sudden increase in energy. 

Some of the signs of prescription drug abuse in teens include: 

Keep Your Teen Safe: Effective Prevention Strategies

There are several ways to prevent prescription drug abuse and keep your teen safe. Some effective prevention strategies include: 

• Use your prescription medications responsibly to model for your teen healthy drug-taking behaviors.

• Know who your teen is spending time with and what they are doing. Openly communicate with them and actively listen to build trust so they come to you if they are in a high-risk situation. 

• Provide consistent rules around drug use and follow through on consequences. 

• Keep medications in the home secure. Lock up prescription drugs and make sure they are not accessible. 

• Educate your teens about the risk of prescription drugs and overdose, especially when not taken as prescribed. Help them get rid of the myth that they are “safer” than abusing illicit drugs. 

• Encourage your teen to get regular physical activity, participate in extracurricular activities, and help them manage stress. This improves their overall well-being and reduces the risk of them turning to drugs to cope. 

• Get involved with local initiatives in the school district or community that support drug prevention, education, peer support, and mentoring. 

• Watch for early warning signs and connect your teen to mental health resources if you recognize there could be a problem. 

Treatment for Teen Prescription Drug Abuse at Lotus Behavioral Health

Lotus Behavioral Health is a residential treatment facility for teens located in Florida. Our programs are designed to support teens and their families with the tools they need to recover from substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. 

We offer a blend of comprehensive recovery services such as individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and skill-building workshops to help teens recover from prescription drug abuse. Contact our admissions team today to find support for your family. 

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Sources

[1] National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. 2025. Drug Use Among Youth: Facts & Statistics. 

[2] National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2021. What is the scope of prescription drug misuse in the United States?‍

[3] Amodio, A. 2025. Depression Rates in the U.S. Continue to Climb—Experts Call for Increased Access to Care and Community-Based Interventions. Temple University College of Public Health.  

[4] Schifano, F. (2020). What about "Pharming"? Issues Regarding the Misuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs. Brain sciences, 10(10), 736.

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