Drug Me

Teenagers are geeked in Rhode Island (which just approved prescription marijuana):

Teenagers are taking more mind-altering drugs -- but under doctor's orders.

Drug prescriptions meant to counter depression, anxiety and mood or attention disorders in teens increased by 250 percent between 1994 and 2001, according to a Brandeis University study released yesterday.

"There is an alarming increase in prescribing these drugs to teens," said lead author Cindy Parks Thomas, who tracks prescription drug trends for the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at the university.

Teenage boys are particularly targeted: one out of every 10 who visits the doctor leaves with a prescription to treat a mental condition. The study also found that overall, up to a quarter of the office visits which yielded a prescription "did not have an associated mental health diagnosis," according to Ms. Thomas.

Link.

Drugging the teenagers is okay, but the sky will fall down if they have a few glasses of beer at a family wedding.