Rural Teens More Likely to Abuse Painkillers

U.S. media and popular culture historically portrayed drug abuse as an urban problem, but in recent years, there has been more media attention on rural drug issues. Part of this growing attention pertains to the growing epidemic of narcotic painkiller abuse in rural America. Although all areas of the country experienced increases in painkiller prescribing, abuse, and mortality over the past two decades, the increases have been most pronounced in small towns and rural areas.

The Carsey School of Public Health reported that painkiller abuse is often a pathway to heroin use, and heroin is now easier and cheaper for teens to purchase than a pack of cigarettes or a six-pack of beer. And NH has reasons to worry. Not only is it a rural state, but the Annie E. Casey 2015 Kids Count report found that 7 percent of teens ages 12 to 17 abused alcohol or drugs in 2012 and 2013, a percentage that was higher than the national average of 6 percent.

The business angle to all of this? Many of those narcotic abuse issues evolve into workplace issues either as teens age and get jobs or those families dealing with a drug crisis at home may need extra flexibility as they seek to manage a challenging child.