Every day 2,500 youth between ages of 12-17 abuse a pain reliever for the first time. The abuser thinks since the prescription drugs and over the counters (OTC) are so easily obtained in a common household, and since the Federal Drug Administration and doctors approve of them, that it’s a safe way to get high.

Abusing prescription drugs and OTCs can be just as harmful as “street drugs.” In large doses the effects could be deadly.

According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, one in five teens has reported abusing a prescription pain medicine; one in five has abused prescription stimulants and tranquilizers; and one in 10 has abused cough medication.

Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person’s health. This risk is higher when prescription drugs like opioids are taken with other substances like alcohol, antihistamines and CNS depressants. Well know, opioids are oxycodone, hydrocodone (Vicodin) and meperidine (Demerol).

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health identifies four types of prescription medications that are commonly abused — pain relievers, stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers. Eleven percent of teens (age12-17) reported lifetime non-medical use of pain relievers and 4 percent reported lifetime non-medical use of stimulants.