We often hear of the growing use of illicit drugs, such as methamphetamine. In reality, according to the latest Monitoring the Future study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), teens are now less likely to use illegal drugs than they have been in recent years. On the flip side, a growing number of teens admit to abusing prescription medication such as Vicodin and OxyContin and over-the-counter treatments like cold medicine. According to the survey, one in ten high school seniors have used Vicodin in the past year, and 6.9 percent of 12th graders reported taking cold or cough medicines that contain dextromethorphan (DMX) for the purpose of getting high.

Staff at Job Corps centers are encouraged to keep an eye out for legal drug abuse and monitor over-the-counter medications. More information on the Monitoring the Future survey can be found at http://monitoringthefuture.org.