The menu of drugs available to kids and teens is changing all the time.

Did you know that...

1 in 5  teens has has tried Vicodin, a narcotic pain reliever, to get high
1 in 10 teens has "partied" with OxyContin, another prescription narcotic
1 in 10 has used the stimulants Ritalin and Adderall for non-medical purposes 
1 in 11 has admitted to getting high on cough medication

Many teens think these drugs are safe because they have legitimate uses, but taking them without a prescription to get high or “self-medicate” can be as dangerous – and addictive – as using street narcotics and other illicit drugs.  And "scoring" can be as easy as opening up the medicine cabinet or surfing the Web.

Who's doing something about it?

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is making sure parents, teens and younger kids know the very real risks of misusing medicine and the dangers of other illicit drug use.  With messages on TV, the radio, the Internet and at the grassroots level, we're making the facts hit home.  We're also working to inspire people with substance abuse problems and their loved ones to seek help and find a path to recovery.

Like other diseases, addiction can be beaten with prevention, early intervention and treatment.  That's why the Partnership exists.

Since 1987, when the Partnership began, illicit drug use has fallen by more than 30%.  But more needs to be done now.

Our messages work.  More teens and parents need to see and hear them.  Help us reach more families with life-saving information.

Support the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.  Please donate now and help us help you keep in touch with the world teens and young adults navigate every day.