The latest survey of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University should trigger sign alarms among parents, as it shows that more youngsters find it easier to get their hands on prescription drugs, much easier than acquiring a bottle of beer. Their percentage rises to 90 percent in contract with 13 percent last year. The main source of drugs such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin and Ritalin is ‘the medicine cabinet,’ (34 percent) according to Elizabeth Planet, director of special projects for CASA who coordinated the survey. However, ‘another source of these drugs is their friends.’ These prescription drugs are often detrimental to the brain of teenagers, which is still in the development stage (Vicodin). However, they may also cause accidents, sexual activities and pushes teenagers to addiction. But this is not the only negative issue found by the survey. Almost 50 percent of the respondents said they leave their house on school nights to hang out with friends. Of those coming home after 8 p.m., 29 percent said they occasionally drink alcohol, smoke marijuana or use other drugs. Of those coming home after 10 p.m., 50 percent said they usually consume alcohol, […]