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High school is stressful in a way that feels constant. Early mornings, heavy class loads, practices, jobs, family responsibilities, and the pressure to get into a good college all stack up. And most of the time, students are expected to handle this without real support.
Some turn to prescription medications to cope. Not street drugs, but stimulants or sedatives used for focus, stress reduction, or sleep. Many teens are not trying to get high, they are trying to function.
Even though overall drug use among teens has decreased, prescription misuse has not disappeared. A study from the University of Michigan found that about 11% of high school seniors misused a prescription drug in the past year, which means this issue is more common than many assume.
One major factor is exhaustion. Many teens wake up around 6:30 a.m. and go to sleep late because of homework and extracurriculars. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends school start times of 8:30 a.m. or later for teenagers due to adolescent sleep cycles.
The workload problem
Students are encouraged to take multiple AP classes, participate in clubs, play sports, and maintain a strong GPA. When everything feels high stakes, stress becomes constant. The issue is not carelessness. The environment itself contributes to unhealthy coping habits.
What schools could do differently
Instead of just repeating “don’t do drugs,” schools could actually help reduce stress. Starting school later, even by 45 minutes, could help students get more sleep. Limiting the number of AP classes a student can take at once would prevent overload. Making counselor check-ins more accessible would help students feel supported before they burn out. Teaching time management and coping strategies directly could give students healthier ways to manage stress. Schools could also provide after school study spaces with academic support, so students are not tackling overwhelming workloads alone.
The bigger picture
When discussing prescription drug misuse among teens, the conversation cannot stop at individual responsibility. The question is not just why students are misusing medication, but why school environments make that feel necessary. If schools address structural stressors, students will be less likely to turn to unhealthy coping strategies. Prescription misuse is not inevitable, it is a signal that the system needs change.
This article was written as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention and treatment options. The program is funded by the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and the grant is administered by Three Valleys Community Foundation.
