Prescription drugs are more abused than all illegal drugs combined (except marijuana). Prescription drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in the U.S. Many addictions begin with treatment of legitimate health issues.

Red flag warnings: Missing household items, such as: alcohol, money, or jewelry Behavior changes: Overreacts when asked about plans Overly sleepy/energetic Change in friends Withdrawal from family (dinners, trips, conversations, etc.) Talking/texting in the middle of the night (check phone bill for out of town area codes)

The most commonly used drug among teens, second to alcohol, is marijuana. Our culture often glamorizes the use of marijuana, especially the media and music industry. The misconception is that it’s harmless, which is not the case.

Prevalence of Drinking: According to the 2018 NSDUH, 29.8 percent of 15-year-olds report that they have had at least 1 drink in their lives. About 7.1 million people ages 12–2015 (18.8 percent of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the past month (18.2 percent of males and 19.5 percent of females).