Most people probably don’t know that more people abuse prescription drugs than the number of people who use cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin combined. ~ Chief Billy Grogan
The prescription pill problem or medicine abuse has become a growing epidemic in our country.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting April Rovero. April is the founder of National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse. NCAPDA’s mission is to reduce the number of deaths and addictions caused by prescription drug abuse (PDA) through educational tools and programs, legislative action and partnership with educational, counseling, medical and law enforcement entities. Check out NCAPDA’s Facebook Page for more information.
Here is what parents can do now to help prevent their child’s abuse of prescription drugs or determine if they may already have a problem:
- Educate yourself about the dangers of the most abused prescription drugs.
- Talk openly with your child about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and other substances beginning as early as middle school.
- Learn about the teen party culture, which can include “Pharm” or “Skittles” parties, and talk with your child about peer influence.
- Lock up or properly dispose of your prescription drugs to keep your child and his/her friends safe.
- Learn about the warning signs of prescription drug abuse and get help quickly if you suspect your child is in trouble.
- Get to know your child’s friends and their parents and monitor for homes where underage drinking and substance abuse is allowed.
- Be wary of sleepovers at your house or another parent’s home, as prescription drugs are easy to hide and use in those settings.
- Talk with your college students about the danger of prescription drug abuse – they didn’t learn about it in middle school or high school!
- Don’t be hesitant to drug test your child if you think he/she may be abusing prescription or illegal drugs.
- Don’t be naive to think your child won’t abuse prescription drugs – it happens in the best of families to the best of kids.
For more information about the consequences of prescription drug abuse watch these two videos.
The Pill Program, Part 1
The Pill Program, Part 2
What do you think about the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse? Join the discussion and let us know in comments.
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