Recently the use of medicamentous drugs strongly increased, especially among adolescents. Why? Because they are easy to find. Many of us have for one reason or another to use narcotic drugs that are prescribed by us doctors. Perhaps you're surprised, but the girl don't have to buy drugs at the corner from a drug dealer, she can find much more than you need in your medicine Cabinet.

In an accident at work my father broke his leg in three places and the doctor prescribed him a painkiller called codeine. I heard that taking it without pain causes a cool feeling. I liked it so much that I kept taking the codeine for my father for several months while they healed his foot. And now I get the drug from friends, who take it from their parents.

Joe, 17 years, Darwin, California.

This happens every day under the nose of thousands of parents, and they do not suspect. In fact, many teenagers get medicamentous drugs imperceptibly — because these drugs are not prohibited, they do not arouse suspicion. These drugs are not only abused children, they sold them. Purchase and sale of medicines among school students is a widespread practice. You just need to pay attention to the hype around drugs such as adderall and ritalin, in the upper and middle classes of schools. This field of big business for children to whom prescribe these preparations.

And though teenagers do not know precisely pernicious effect of street drugs, they know that for a long time positive effect from them will not last. But you know teenagers about the dangers of drugs appointed by doctors? In most of my interviews the answer was "no".

I take medicamentous drug during certain time. But I would never take these drugs. If doctors prescribe these pills to people how they can be dangerous?

Carrie, age 16, Randlett, Oklahoma.

Well, the answer could be a lot worse than most think. Many drugs are harmful if misused. Besides people cannot accept certain preparations at some physical States, not to mention allergies. All these are the reasons why only a certified doctor may prescribe you medicines. But this fact is ignored by most of teenagers whom I met because most of them think the same as Carrie.

So what can you do to prevent your child to sit on narcotic drugs? Teenagers offer some things. First, as I found out in your interviews, you should not change the main dynamics of conversations about street drugs. Teens believe that when the medicinal drugs parents apply the same tactics of conversations, as about street drugs, it is productive. Mentioned two main points that seemed produced the greatest effect. First: the idea that all drugs are harmless is a lie. Second: the appointed medical means can be also harmful as illegal drugs. For a very large number of teenagers this information appeared a surprise. Not only does this show your children that you know more than they think, but also makes them think twice before using drug which they considered harmless earlier. But there is one side in the question of medical drugs with which it is most difficult to handle.