Doctors are requiring patients to enter into a contract to receive painkillers

In an effort to quell the rampant prescription drug abuse among teens and young adults, some doctors are requiring patients to sign contracts to be prescribed opioid painkillers, The Washington Post reports.

Many people require these types of drugs to treat chronic pain. However, some individuals are falsely reporting their symptoms in order to receive these powerful narcotics, which they can turn around and make a quick buck or use to get high.

The agreements may require patients to submit to blood or urine tests, fill their prescription at a single pharmacy or refuse to accept medication from any other doctor. If patients do not follow these guidelines, they may be dropped from the physician's practice.

Adolescents who seek help may want to explore private boarding school options as a means to overcome their addiction. Professionals can help them through individual therapy, while they earn a high school diploma.

According to a 2008 survey conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 15 percent of high school seniors used prescription medication non-medically in the year prior to the survey.