Nonmedical use of prescription drugs is a serious problem among American teens, warns JoBeth McCarthy-Jean, a researcher at the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University, Bloomington.

"Pharming" is a term used to describe taking prescription drugs from family medicine cabinets for recreational or experimental purposes.

"Many times children perceive prescription drugs in the home as safe and are not aware of how dangerous it is to take these medicines without a prescription," she explains. In addition to serious health risks, teens caught possessing medications without a prescription can face drug charges equivalent to possession of illegal narcotics.

To discourage misuse of prescription drugs:

• Talk with your child about the dangers of taking nonprescribed drugs;

• Dispose of unused medication;

• Encourage participation in school and extracurricular activities;

• Approve of chaperoned parties only;

• Monitor financial expenditures and Internet purchases and activities.

Signs that a child may be abusing prescription drugs include changes in patterns of behavior, difficulty sleeping or staying awake, disengagement from family, and nervousness or paranoia.