Doctor warns parents to lock up medication to prevent theft by teens
VANCOUVER — Teenagers who steal prescription medication from a medicine cabinet at home may be at risk of becoming addicted to drugs, says a family doctor who treats chronic substance use.
Dr. William Barakett said parents should lock up their medication and return unused drugs to a pharmacy for disposal.
Parents must ensure their teens aren’t pocketing drugs to mask an emotional disorder such as ADHD, he said.
They also need to take a “good hard look” at whether there’s a family history of addiction, said Barakett, an advisory council member for Drug Free Kids Canada.