It is common knowledge that drug use has been prevalent among teens for decades. But according to a new study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the types of drugs used are changing.

Gone are the days when marijuana was the drug of choice for America’s teens. Its users declined to 37 percent from 42 percent just six years earlier. Also down 3 percent is the use of ecstasy and methamphetamine usage is down 4 percent. So what are teens using to get high these days?

“For the first time, our national study finds that today’s teens are more likely to have abused a prescription painkiller to get high than they are to have experimented with a variety of illegal drugs,” said partnership Chairman Roy Bostock.

Counted among the favorite prescription drugs abused by teens are Vicodin, with 18 percent, OxyContin and attention-deficit disorder medications, which are abused by one in 10 teens.

The study reported that only 48 percent of participating teens said they saw a great risk in experimenting with prescription medicines. That might explain why they are growing in popularity. Respondents also cited ease of access as a major reason for trying over-the-counter drugs or prescription drugs to get high.

?Adolescent abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications represents one of the most significant developments in substance abuse trends in recent memory,? said Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of the Partnership. ?Educating parents and teenagers about the risks of abusing medications will be exceptionally challenging, but it clearly must be done.?

High school counselors in particular need to be educated because they deal first-hand with alcohol and drug abuse in high schools across the nation. Knowing the early warning signs and where to go for help are basics every school counselor should be familiar with to effectively fight prescription drug abuse in their schools.

Warning signs include, but are not limited to:

If you suspect that one of your students is abusing prescription drugs or illegal drugs, you are obligated by state law to report it. For additional information on drug abuse, or to read the full study, visit Partnership for a Drug-Free America.