Suicide in adolescents is a major public health problem. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) over 15,000 emergency department visits by adolescents aged 12-17 who attempted suicide in the year 2004 involved drugs. Of these attempts three quarters where drug related and were serious enough to merit the patient's admission to the same hospital or transfer to another health care facility. Pain medications were involved in about half of these suicide attempts while antidepressants or psychotherapeutic medications where involved in about 40 percent of these suicide attempts by adolescents who were admitted to the hospital. Now you might be asking yourself at this point how are these children getting access to these drugs and why so many of our children are attempting suicide at such a young age. The truth of the matter is substance abuse and addiction severely compromise or destroy the ability of the "parents" to provide a safe and nurturing home for their children. Most children who are abused or neglected by their parents will find their way somehow to drugs: whether it is on the street or from the medicine cabinet. These children are looking for a way out of what they consider a horrible existence. Turning to drugs and alcohol is a cry for help and once the route is taken by the child it's a never ending cycle of drug abuse that leads to severe problems and often time's suicide attempts just to make the pain go away. If you think your child or a child you know may be abusing any type of drugs or alcohol please contact a law enforcement agency or child protective services. The signs are sometimes hard to see but, it is our responsibility as adults to protect our nation's children from any and all types of abuse. Inside the home it is important to keep all medications locked up in a safe place where your child or your child's friends can not have access to it. Not only is this true of over the counter and prescription medications it is also true for any alcohol that may be in the home. Children tend to look for ways to cope with their problems just as adults do and when they see the parents or other adults turning to drugs and alcohol for a way to solve their problems they will do the same. When a child or an adult starts taking medications of any kind it alters their ability to make rational decisions. Psychotherapeutic drugs are especially dangerous because these drugs are focused on altering the mind. When a child gets a hold of these drugs it is no wonder they become overwhelmed even more than they may already be and start to have suicidal tendencies. These drugs are very dangerous not only for those they are prescribed to but especially to those who are not capable of using them in a responsible manner. The children who are struggling with addiction problems need to be able to get help and need to know that they have someone to talk to about their problems. Children are small adults who have problems, needs and wants just like the rest of us. It is our responsibility to make sure we protect them.