In mid-December 2014, the Monitoring the Future survey results provided good news regarding trends among America’s teens. This nationally known survey inquires about drug use and attitudes of American 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. The results are encouraging on many fronts, but especially regarding pharmaceutical use.
The study specifically cites Vicodin, which has very limited dispensing, but I’m sure that the study is referring to the most prescribed drug in the United States— the generic equivalent, hydrocodone. Hydrocodone has long been a drug of abuse with teenagers, especially high school seniors. However, abuse of hydrocodone among high school seniors has dropped from 9.7% in 2009 to only 4.8% in 2014, according to this recent study. [Read more…]