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Teenage drug abuse is a growing concern in the country. According to the latest statistics from CDC, 30% of 10th graders have used marijuana before. More than two-thirds of all 10th graders surveyed say that they can easily gain access to it. In 2010, 3% of 12th graders have already used cocaine, 8% have used Vicodin (a type of opiate), 5% have used designer drug Ecstasy, and 1.5% have used steroids.

Of all the illicit drugs, marijuana is the most commonly used by young people. Possibly because it's easier to access and its use has been glamorized repeatedly in songs, movies, and tv shows. There's also an alarming upward trend in the use of over-the-counter medication. CDC reports an increased use in pain relievers, tranquilizers, inhalants, stimulants, and depressants among teens. According to surveys, about 20% of high school students admit to taking prescription drugs such as Xanax, Ritalin, Vicodin, Aderral and others without a doctor's prescription. Most teens who use over-the-counter drugs are able to easily procure these from home. The use of over-the-counter drugs can result to addiction, severely adverse health effects, and even death.

Parents cannot be with their teens all the time. They also cannot make all the decisions for their teens. Here are a few tips for parents who want to kno whow to deal with teenage drug abuse:

1. More parental involvement - It's often the simplest things that could keep you involved in your child's life even if they're in the turbulent phase of their adolescent years. During after school hours, give your teens a way to communicate with you or encourage them to sign up for an after school program. Try to have family meals together as often as possible. Support your teen's school activities and make your presence felt. There are many ways for teens to feel that their parents are present in their lives.
2. Talk to your teen about drugs - Talking with your teen is not synonymous to lecturing them about drug use. Try to have relevant conversations based on movies that you watch, news that you read or listen to, or anything similar. Talking about drugs and its effects on people doesn't need to be preachy. In fact, the message is a lot more effective when it doesn't come in that tone.
3. Set rules and limitations - When your teen plans to go out, you can always ask important questions like where he's going, who he's going to be with, will there be other adults there, etcetera. You can require your teen to call you when he gets there, and to answer the phone when you check up on him. If your teen is staying over at a friend's house, you can ask for the phone number there and talk to the parents or responsible adults in that household.
4. Encourage extracurricular activities - Many studies show that teens who don't have much idle time on their hands are least likely to consider doing drugs.
5. Be responsible with your prescription drugs - Since some of the most common drugs teens use these days are prescription drugs, it's important for parents to properly label and monitor their medicines at home. Control access to these drugs and dispose of them properly if you're not going to use them anymore.

The struggle against drug addiction is a rough road to take. The battle isn't fought just by the drug addicted teen but also by family members, and it's oftentimes a struggle that lasts for many years. When teens are involved, it's important that the family has a clear stand on drug abuse. This doesn't mean that teens will be kicked out of the family if they make a mistake, but it's important that teens know the seriousness of the matter and how it will affect the family and not just themselves.