Abuse of prescription drugs is epidemic, with teenagers the fastest growing group of new abusers, yet the problem has not drawn adequate attention from health and law enforcement agencies, physicians, pharmacists and parents, according to a study released Thursday.
Abusers of prescription drugs -- 15.1 million people -- exceed the combined number abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and heroin, said the report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York.
Of those, 2.3 million are teenagers, but youngsters turn to prescription drugs at much higher rates than adults do, the study reports. The number of people age 12 to 17 abusing the drugs grew 212 percent, while the number of adult abusers climbed 81 percent, the study found.
Teenagers arrange "pharming parties" where they swap drugs they have spirited from home or purchased off the streets...