The statistics on these drugs are hard to "swallow". One in five teens has abused prescription drugs.
The Denver metro area is slightly above the national average in such abuse, according to the Denver Human Services Office of Drug Strategy.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger reports the problem has become so common it's taken on a name in slang, "pharming" as in pharmaceuticals.
It's in music, like "The Vicodin Song" on YouTube by Terra Naomi, and it's in the schools.
CBS4 asked one student what drugs he has seen around his Denver high school.
"Albuterol, vicodin, valium, codeine, other sorts of pharmaceutical drugs," he replied.
Though he says he doesn't use them he and other kids rattle off the names like a veteran pharmacist.
"Things like allergy medicines, Allegra, things like that being sold, such things like Oxycontin."
That pain killer is one several students ingested at Castle View High School in Douglas County. And a few weeks later at a nearby middle school, different drugs were found on the students.
It's a world Alexis Mueller knew too well.
"Instead of taking them as a pill we would crush them up and snort them and then it gives you more high of a rush," she said.
Before being caught by her parents, Mueller used pain killers Oxycodone, Vicodin and Adderall (which is for attention deficit disorder).
"Where are kids getting these prescription drugs?" CBS 4 asked Mueller.
"They are getting them either from their parents or their friends who have parents who have them," she answered.
Public service messages warn it's like having a drug dealer in the house.
"When you talk to your kids about drugs start with the ones in your medicine cabinet," one TV announcement reads.
But that's not the only place these drugs can be found.
The Internet is loaded with sites offering these drugs for sale. No prescription? No problem.
Under the supervision of CBS4 Medical Editor, Dr. Dave Hnida, we found it disturbingly easy to order addictive drugs like Vicodin.
And you don't know what is really in the pills.
Dr. Brian Hemstreet is an associate professor with the University of Colorado at Denver School of Pharmacy.
"While it's technically illegal to obtain prescription drugs from other countries it is very very difficult to track and police that sort of activity," he said.
He adds, there is a misconception among teens that pharmaceutical drugs are safer than street drugs.
"Did you see any kids get sick?" CBS4 asked teen Alexis Mueller.
"Oh yeah there would be nights at parties where a big thing is mixing all kinds of drugs people would be in the bathroom vomiting I mean people passed out," she said.
These drugs are supposed to be prescribed to make people feel better. It doesn't work out that way - that I can guarantee.
Later - Monty
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