NJ Parents Believe Kids Are Getting Alcohol/Drugs At Home

About eight in 10 parents in New Jersey feel that kids get prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of medicine cabinets, either from their own homes (68%) or from a friend's house (11%), according to New Statewide Survey results released Wednesday by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

In addition, the Partnership's annual Tracking Study of Parent Attitude and Behavior in Alcohol and Drug Abuse found New Jersey parents estimate that approximately three in 10 middle school students are abusing prescription or over-the-counter drugs (26%).

At the same time, the vast majority of New Jersey parents—82%—never permit their 12- to 15-year-old children to drink alcohol in their homes. But most parents believe kids are getting alcohol at home (54% up nine points from 45% in 2011).

Last year, New Jersey offficials reported that a growing number of young people are abusing prescription drugs, a trend that has led to increases in the number of young people addicted to painkillers.

According to a press release from the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey:

• Four in 10 (39%) parents have taken an inventory of their prescription and OTC medicine in the past two months, with the majority (60%) not having done so.  
• Just about one in five (17%) of parents say they have disposed of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine at a local disposal site
• Two in five parents (44%) have disposed of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine in their household trash.
• One in four (23%) have flushed unwanted/expired medicine down a sink or drain.
• 9% lock their medicine cabinet.