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• Every day 2,500 youths from ages 12 to 17 abuse a pain reliever for the first time in the U.S. More teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drug except marijuana. In 2006, more than 2.1 million teens ages 12 to 17 reported abusing prescription drugs. Among 12 and 13 year olds, prescription drugs are the drug of choice.
• The majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them easily and free; 10 percent of teens say they took drugs from friends or relatives without asking.
• Parents are in a unique position to immediately reduce teen access to prescription drugs because they are found in the home.
— Source: www.theantidrug.com
• The majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them easily and free; 10 percent of teens say they took drugs from friends or relatives without asking.
• Parents are in a unique position to immediately reduce teen access to prescription drugs because they are found in the home.
— Source: www.theantidrug.com
WINSTON— In an effort to decrease illegal use of prescription medication, the Winston Police Department is currently accepting unused or unwanted pills.
Linda Cline, manager of the federally funded Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant program in the city, proposed the idea to police at the beginning of the month after learning about the emerging problem of prescription medication use by Winston youth.
“The grant’s whole purpose is to try to reduce drug use among everybody, and one goal is to do it through community collaboration,” said Cline.
The “take-back” program is modeled after several other nationwide attempts to reduce drug use, but is the first of its kind in Douglas County.
Linda Cline, manager of the federally funded Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant program in the city, proposed the idea to police at the beginning of the month after learning about the emerging problem of prescription medication use by Winston youth.
“The grant’s whole purpose is to try to reduce drug use among everybody, and one goal is to do it through community collaboration,” said Cline.
The “take-back” program is modeled after several other nationwide attempts to reduce drug use, but is the first of its kind in Douglas County.
Winston police officer Sandi Koberstein said the police department has collected prescription medications like Trazodone and Cyclobenzine from one person so far, but believes that number will rise when people learn they can dispose of their medication safely.
Koberstein said when enough of the pills are collected, they will be incinerated.
According to the National Anti-Drug Campaign, medications should not be flushed down the drain or toilet because the chemicals can pollute the water supply. Throwing medications in the trash might also result in illegal use of the pills and parents are advised to mix an unsavory substance such as coffee grounds with the pills if they are being thrown away.
Oftentimes, parents forget they have the medications in their cabinets, said Cline, who admitted she had forgotten about the Vicodin she was prescribed after a surgery two years ago.
“It’s more about educating people that they need to look and be aware and say ‘Oh, my kids could have got that,’” she said.
The DFC is a collaborative initiative sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The initiative is dedicated to reducing substance abuse by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of drug use. The grant program also aims to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies and all types of government agencies to support the efforts of community coalitions.
“It’s not just for kids, it’s for everybody,” said Cline of the program.
The $100,000 annual grant supports drug-free community events in Winston, such as youth theater and operational costs of the new teen center.
The Winston Police Department is located at 201 N.W. Douglas Blvd.
• You can reach reporter Cara Pallone at 957-4208 or by e-mail at cpallone@nrtoday.com.
Koberstein said when enough of the pills are collected, they will be incinerated.
According to the National Anti-Drug Campaign, medications should not be flushed down the drain or toilet because the chemicals can pollute the water supply. Throwing medications in the trash might also result in illegal use of the pills and parents are advised to mix an unsavory substance such as coffee grounds with the pills if they are being thrown away.
Oftentimes, parents forget they have the medications in their cabinets, said Cline, who admitted she had forgotten about the Vicodin she was prescribed after a surgery two years ago.
“It’s more about educating people that they need to look and be aware and say ‘Oh, my kids could have got that,’” she said.
The DFC is a collaborative initiative sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The initiative is dedicated to reducing substance abuse by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of drug use. The grant program also aims to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, private nonprofit agencies and all types of government agencies to support the efforts of community coalitions.
“It’s not just for kids, it’s for everybody,” said Cline of the program.
The $100,000 annual grant supports drug-free community events in Winston, such as youth theater and operational costs of the new teen center.
The Winston Police Department is located at 201 N.W. Douglas Blvd.
• You can reach reporter Cara Pallone at 957-4208 or by e-mail at cpallone@nrtoday.com.
