Teen Drug Abuse on the Rise in County

(Palo Alto Online, Aug. 29) Hospitals and local law enforcement are seeing increasing numbers of teens taking prescription and illegal drugs in Northern California. They say especially as school is back in session, they tend to see substance abuse occurring after the first dance, progress report, and first sporting event. Experts are also concerned that legal changes could cause more substance abuse, and that some attempt to self-medicate for depression and anxiety. Nearly half of high school juniors surveyed said they smoked marijuana in the last year. READ MORE.