The teen years can be among the most difficult in a child's development. Teens may feel the pressure to do well at school and get into a good college, all the while dealing with the 'teenage angst' of simply growing.  At some point, even the most reliable of teens may feel the pressure to start drinking, smoking pot or experimenting with other drugs.

As a parent you may have spoken to your teen about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs, such as marijuana. But did you know that legally prescribed drugs are also a cause for concern? Prescription drugs are fast becoming the new drug of choice among teens; and they may be as close as your or a grandparent's medicine cabinet.

The desire to feel good or get high ranks much lower as a motivation when misusing prescription drugs as compared to other types of adolescent drug use. More often, teens turn to prescription drugs to help manage their daily lives - to lower stress and anxiety, boost their mood or increase performance.

Unfortunately, many teens falsely believe that prescription drugs are less dangerous than other substances. They may not know what drugs they are taking or how they will affect them. The hidden dangers of prescription drug misuse include dependence, slower brain activity, irregular heartbeats, dangerously high body temperature, heart failure, or potentially deadly seizures. Parents can help shape teens' decision-making about drug use by educating them about the dangers of prescription drugs and promoting healthy ways to address stress and anxiety.