Have you heard about the orange curtain and the prescription drug problem among our youth?
A must-see video has been made about prescription drug use in Orange County, California.
Having grown up in southern California, I know Orange County, California well. It is located along the beautiful southern California coastline. After I left for college, my parents moved and lived in a small town in Orange County for 30 years.
My daughter attended her treatment program and lived there for seven years. It is a beautiful place with upscale homes, highly ranked schools, and a relaxed lifestyle, with all the ingredients for endless possibilities.
Yet, all is not well in Orange County. Hundreds of teens and young adults have passed away from prescription drugs. Hundreds more are using and addicted to heroin. This is an epidemic that has taken far too many lives.
If you think that prescription drug abuse is limited to Orange County, please remember, it is an epidemic that has affected every city, county, and state across the country. It has no boundaries and does not discriminate.
More people die from prescription drug overdose than street drugs combined. This is a national problem for all of us. We all need to be concerned because children are our future and we all have a stake in their destinies.
Please meet Natalie Costa, producer of the award-winning video, Behind the Orange Curtain.
1. How did you become aware of the drug overdose problem in Orange County?
My daughter’s childhood friend, Mark Melkonian died in May of 2010 from a drug overdose. The sound of my daughter on the phone that day is something I will never forget.
Then we heard he died from an overdose of Opana. I thought I was a mom-in-the-know but had never heard of Opana and had no idea that there was a prescription drug problem in Orange County, California.
2. Why did you decide to make a film?
My thought was if I didn’t know, there were probably many more like me who had no clue about the abuse of prescription drugs, the addiction and the switch to heroin. The fact that children as young as 10 were experimenting with alcohol and drugs – and that most drugs came right out of the home was horrifying.
I own a performing arts school – The Performer’s Academy. My teachers are film directors from Los Angeles. I approached Brent Huff and asked him if he wanted to help me tell this story. I put up the initial money and off we went.
3. What overall message do you hope to share with teens and their families?
I want to remove the stigma that this only happens to poor people or to parents who did not raise their children correctly.
Parents need to talk with their children at a young age. They need to understand that this is a very real issue that is in every community -rich or poor, and that it could affect their child or someone they know.
This is an epidemic that crosses all socio-economic lines. It doesn’t matter if you live on Park Avenue or the park bench. If you start experimenting with prescription drugs (or if you genuinely are prescribed them and misuse them) you are headed down a road that very few make it back.
4. What prescription drugs are abused the most?
The kids/teens are big with Xanax bars. The term is they are all “barred out”. Then OxyContin is the next on the list and then Opana. Adderall is widely abused.
It is shared on the school grounds and girls use it for weight loss. In a very wealthy community in Texas it has been reported to me that mothers were using it with their daughters to maintain weight loss. I was working with a special agent from the DEA and he said that Adderall is just like meth. You cannot just quit taking the drug – you have to be weaned off of it.
They also use Somas, Klonopin, and Suboxone (the drug used to reduce their need to get high from opiates).
5. When should parents start talking to their children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse?
The age of experimentation is between the ages of 12-15 – so with a standard deviation of about 2.5 years – we say start talking at age ten. If you don’t talk to your children someone else will.
Fifth graders go to school with 6th and 7th graders. Children have siblings. It might not be your child going through your medicine cabinet – but it could be their friend who’s hanging out at your house.
6. What is the Good Samaritan Law and why is it important?
The Good Samaritan Law allows medical services to be administered to those in distress from overdosing. Here’s was the problem in California. When someone was overdosing or blacking out due to drug use, their friends would panic and leave them alone, place a call to 911 and leave, or not call at all – many bodies were dumped at the beach, the side of the road, or just left in a bedroom and found dead later that day.
Now when 911 is called – first responders will come and administer care and transport. They don’t need to fear arrest or prosecution. With opiate overdoses, when first responders come, they can give them Naloxone (Narcan) and it instantly stops the opiate overdose.
7. What is the biggest misconception about prescription drug abuse?
Denial: Users/experimenters/partiers think nothing will happen – they’re are fearless and infallible. They do not realize how fast the addiction sets in and how hard it is to kick it once you are hooked.
Denial: Parents are in denial that this could happen to their child. It’s always someone else’s child.
Denial: Prescription drugs are safe because they come from a doctor.
Visit the website to find out more about The Orange Curtain.
Be sure to watch The Orange Curtain with your kids.
What are your thoughts about prescription drug abuse? Let us know in the comments.
If you liked this post, please share it on social media. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing this story Cathy about the prevalence of prescription drug overdose with kids. Previously it was easier to identify drugs and determine which the detrimental ones were but now with prescription drugs, the line is a lot blurrier.
Prescription drug overdose has been going on for a long time. As always, a good way to start tackling the problem is to understand the problem and learn more about it. This movie sounds like it does an excellent job of helping us see the problem and hopefully, what parents, teachers, kids can do about it.
Hi Vishnu,
Prescription drug abuse is a challenge because many believe that if a doctor prescribed the pills, they are safe. They see their parents or other family members taking the medication and feel that they can take the medication as well without harm. This is a problem where we do need to take some strong and immediate action with all involved. Movies like “Behind the Orange Curtain” go a long way in spreading awareness which is the first step. Always love hearing from you. Take care.
Hi Cathy & Natalie,
This was indeed a wonderful video, something that every parent must see.
I’m just glad that things like this aren’t all that much in our country though they are gradually picking pace. I guess we really can’t be behind when prescription drug abuse has caught up in a lot of other places.
You are absolutely right. We as parents need to start talking to our kids about all of these things right from the time they are kids, so that they walk into their teens with their eyes open. Even for parents, they need to be always aware of their kids and teens, and keep a note of any kind of changes in their lifestyle or moods that could be due to these things.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a nice day ahead 🙂
Hi Harleena,
I glad that you do not have the prescription drug problem that we have here in the states. It has changed the course of many lives and we need to make parents aware of the dangers so that they can protect their children. The more we shine a light on this problem that affects us all, the better. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Cathy,
This is so insane! Thanks for shedding a light on this. Awareness if the first step. I had no idea.
Hi Tess,
Many have no idea about the problem, so it is wonderful that the film is bringing awareness and education about prescription drug abuse. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Cathy-
I always think that nothing can surprise me when it comes to kids and drugs ~ not so. Behind The Orange Curtain is a riveting video, well executed with moving and tragic personal stories – but the fact that it is Orange County does underline this epidemic with a bold magic marker.
Thank you for introducing us to Natalie Costa and her work ‘Behind The Orange Curtain’. It’s critical that she – and all of you who are doing this much needed work- continue to educate and motivate parents to ‘wake up’ ~ Fran
Hi Fran,
So often parents live in a circle of denial thinking that this only happens to some one else’s kid. I know, because I was that parent at one time. It is unfortunate that parents are not so interested in this topic until their child is abusing drugs or alcohol. So many can be saved if we pay attention before the problem occurs. As schools and families work together and realize that this is everyone’s responsibility, we will begin to make some progress. Take care.
This is scary stuff Cathy and Natalie and I thank you both so much for your ongoing educational work. I had no idea…and with no idea then we, as in none of us are in a position to at least be alert to the dangers.
Love Elle
xoxo
Hi Elle,
You are not alone. Many have no idea that this is going on, so it is wonderful that this film has been made, so that people understand the depth of the problem. With more awareness, comes hope for prevention. With education, more teens will make healthy choices and not be derailed by substance abuse. Take care and thanks for stopping by.
this is much needed
two young men in our community have died in the last 3 weeks
college seniors…
you never know
thank you
Hi Ism,
Welcome! I’m sorry to hear about the college students. It is so unnecessary to have lives cut short due to prescription drug abuse. My hope is that we can educate people to help stop this problem and save lives. I appreciate your thoughts on this subject that affects us all.
Thank you Cathy and Natalie for this interview, and thank you Natalie for creating this incredibly important documentary. The trailer, alone, raises so many of the issues surrounding prescription drug use, abuse and dependence -it is sure to save lives.
Hi Lisa,
The trailer definitely shares the growing problem in Orange County and across the country. The film will hopefully reach many and prevent future use. Thank you for stopping by.
Thanks Cathy for this Article & interview. This problem with prescription drug overdose is everywhere. I had two aunts that died of drug overdose from meds from their own doctors, one in 1974, and the other in 1981, right after my graduation from High School. I to grew up in So. Cal and went to Newport & Balboa in the 80’s and drugs period were everywhere as well. My point in sharing is that Prescription Pills and Overdose has been going on for years, just that no one talked about it back then like they do now. My aunts both Doctor shopped, meaning if they didn’t get what they thought they needed for their pain, they would go to another doctor who would. My mom was OUTRAGED when she found my one Aunt had 11 different doctors she was seeing. IT’S TIME TO DO SOMETHING!! Your Article sure helps, Catherine
Hi Catherine,
Welcome! I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your aunts. Everyone is affected when family members abuse drugs or alcohol. You are right, prescription drug abuse has been around for a long time. The numbers have definitely increased in the recent years, and it seems to have taken on a popularity with the teens like never before. Doctor shopping is still a problem, and there needs to be systems in place to help stop this growing problem. My hope is that with awareness and education, we can stop this epidemic and save lives. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Hi Cathy & Natalie,
Thank you for this interview. I really enjoyed reading it and found it very informative. It’s got me wondering about the problem of prescription drug abuse and the state of this area in the UK.
There were two points in the interview, which I never considered before when it comes to this area. One was the point about friends of those overdosing calling the emergency services and then running off. The Good Samaritan Law sounds excellent. The other was actually administering certain drugs that stop the overdosing.
Thank you.
Thanks for any other magnificent post. Where else could anybody get that kind of info
in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such information.
Welcome! Glad you found what you were looking for! Take care.
I’m in the UK and I cannot find any link to watch this!
can anyone help please
Hi Kat,
Welcome! Here is the link to the trailer – http://behindtheorangecurtain.net/
You can watch it on Amazon, Hulu and itunes. I’m not sure which of these would be available in the UK, but I hope that helps.