Rural teens more likely to abuse prescription drugs

Rural teens are 26 percent more likely to use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes than their urban counterparts, says a new study from the University of Kentucky. "Non-medical prescription drug use  is a growing problem that increased 212 percent among U.S. teens from 1992 to 2003, according to the study," Ann  J. Curley of CNN reports. "It is an area of concern because it’s associated with the use of other drugs including cocaine and heroin, and in problem behaviors such as gambling, increased sexual activity, and 'impulsivity,' the study said."

The study revealed rural and urban teens had roughly the same levels of illicit drug use, but 13 percent of rural teens reported using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes compared to 10 percent of urban teens. "Among rural teens, 11.5 percent  had used pain relievers non-medically, compared with 10.3 percent of urban teens," Curley writes, adding. "3.5 percent of rural teens had tried tranquilizers non-medically, compared with 2.5 percent of urban teens."

The study revealed rural non-medical prescription drug abuse was more likely in teens that reported poorer health, depression or other substance abuse. Living in a household with two parents and enrollment in school were shown to reduce the likelihood of non-medical prescription drug use. For the study researchers from UK's College of Medicine analyzed data from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is produced annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Just over half the 17,872 teens surveyed lived in urban areas while 17.1 percent lived in rural areas. (Read more)