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Don’t assume that any medication prescribed by your doctor must be safe--it may not be! There are more than 26,000 fatal drug overdoses each year in the U.S., and prescription drugs are the leading cause of them. Combining pain killers and/or anti-anxiety drugs with alcohol multiplies their effect--they can shut down your breathing or stop your heart. Prescription drug abuse is now America’s biggest and fastest-growing drug problem--it has become an epidemic. Abusing prescription drugs is illegal--and that includes sharing prescriptions with friends. Misuse of legal drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) has been linked to a 30 times higher suicide risk.

Involved Parents		Students Protect Friends
There are a number of ways that parents can both prevent and recognize a problem with prescription drugs. These fall into three main categories: Educate yourselves. Ensure your home is safe from prescription drugs. Look out for warning signs of prescription drug abuse. More…		Following are ways you can keep yourself and your friends safe: Form friendships with people who aren’t using prescription drugs. Avoid parties or other social situations where drugs will be included. If you find yourself in a situation where a friend has taken prescription drugs, watch over them closely until you know for sure they are OK. More…

National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse