Straight talk on prescription drugs.

• Author: French, Marie
• Position: HEADS UP REAL NEWS: ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY - Interview with Nora D. Volkow - Interview

A teen reporter interviews the director of the nation's leading research agency on drug abuse and addiction Overall teen drug use is declining, but prescription-drug abuse remains high. This is mainly because teens do not see the dangers, says one of the nation's top scientists.

"Teenagers believe that if a doctor gives a drug to you, it cannot be so terrible," says Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Md. "They think prescribed drugs are safer than illegal drugs. They are not."

In a sit-down interview with teen reporter Marie French, Dr. Volkow explains why prescription-drug abuse can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs in terms of health risks and addiction.

What's the worst that can happen?

"Death," says Dr. Volkow.

What are the effects of prescription-drug abuse--either one-time or long-term use?

DR. VOLKOW: There isn't much research on one-time use, so it's hard to say overall what the negative effects may be, except, of course, that you may overdose. Another risk is that you may love the way it makes you feel, and that starts to change your brain. The brain is wired to learn very rapidly about things that you like, that give you pleasure. So if, for example, you take a prescription painkiller and you like it, you might take it again in the future. And if you keep taking it, you could become addicted, which is why I say, Why risk it?--unless it's something a physician prescribes for you to treat a problem. Do you really want to reach a point where you are doing something only because you cannot stop, as if you've lost control of your own brain? It's just not worth it.

What's the likelihood of someone becoming addicted to prescription drugs?

DR. VOLKOW: Your likelihood of becoming addicted is dependent on a number of factors--the drug itself, how you take it, your genes, and your age. If you abuse a pain medication like OxyContin[R], the risk of becoming addicted can be equivalent to that of heroin--especially if you snort or inject the drug. Actually, if a teen starts with a prescribed painkiller and gets hooked, he or she may shift to heroin because it is cheaper.

What long-term health effects do addicted teens face?

DR. VOLKOW: When you become addicted, there are many negative health and social effects. With smoking, there is damage to your heart and lungs, and it puts you at risk for a variety of cancers. When you are an alcoholic, you increase your risk of getting into an accident or...