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ABUSE MAGAZINE among American teens saw a sharp decline. In 2009 and 2010, however, that decline hit a huge bump in the road. In fact, according to DrugFacts: Nationwide Trends April 2011 edition, marijuana use among eighth, tenth and twelfth graders increased between 2009 and 2010. Ecstasy use also increased at the same time for eighth and tenth graders. The bottom line is that teen drug abuse and use, despite the mountain of education available on the dangers of addiction and drug use seems to be on the rise once again. If your teen is abusing marijuana, ecstasy or any other illicit or prescription drugs, we can help your teen kick the habit and get back to a life that’s free of addiction. Make the call today at (800) 943-0566 so we can help your teen begin the journey back to a brighter future right away. Prescription Drug Abuse Among Teens Many teens begin taking prescription drugs because they feel it’s a safer choice than using illicit drugs. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health findings in 2009 and 2010, of the people over the age of 12 who admitted to using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in recent months, 50 percent reported receiving prescription drugs from friends or family members free of charge. Many teens cite easy access to prescription medication as one of the reasons they prefer them over illicit drugs today. But one of the biggest considerations among teens may be the fact that the social stigma associated with prescription drug abuse is much lower than with illicit drugs. Is Treatment Necessary? The truth is that it’s extremely difficult to kick the drug habit without going through a proper youth addiction treatment program. Addiction is a complicated issue that often goes much deeper than simple curiosity. That’s why most drug treatment programs that deal with teen drug abuse also include individual therapy, group therapy and medical care and treatment as part of the program. Call us at (800) 943-0566, so we can help you find the right program for your teen. abusemagazine.org | Idaho Spring/Summer 2014 | 35