Drop-in Article: Short Version

Federal data from a national survey of 8th, 10th and 12th graders show that prescription and over-the-counter medications account for most of the commonly abused illicit drugs by high school seniors, after marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a component of the National Institutes of Health that supports the annual study, has launched a national public awareness initiative called PEERx, a prescription drug abuse prevention campaign for teens.

The centerpiece of the online initiative is Choose Your Path, a unique video activity that allows teens to assume the role of the main character and confront real-life decisions, select which path to take, and then watch the consequences unfold onscreen.

Other free PEERx resources for teens and educators include:

• An Activity Guide to help teens engage peers in their school or community
• Peer Into Your Path, a creative writing project based on Choose Your Path
• Free, colorful downloads that can be made into iron-on decals for t-shirts, posters, computer wallpaper, or stickers
• Fact sheets on over-the-counter cough medicines and the three classes of prescription drugs abused most often (opioid painkillers, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants).

Check out PEERx today on the NIDA for Teens Web site, teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx, and contact us with any questions.