Prescription drug abuse up sharply in the USA.

This article reports that the abuse of pharmaceutical drugs is on the rise in the United States according the U.S. government statistics. The abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs jumped 21 percent from 2004-2005. Data suggests that non-medical use of pain relievers was second only to marijuana use. Lloyd Johnston, a professor who tracks adolescent drug use, believes the increase in the abuse of mainstream drugs is due to the perception by teens that illicit drugs are too dangerous but over-the-counter and prescription drugs are safe.