| When it comes to teenage prescription drug abuse I | | | | past an addict. |
| think we need to be careful not to make the mistake | | | | One of the first things you need to do if your teenager |
| and point the finger at the doctors, as many of these | | | | is addicted to prescription drugs is think of all the |
| drugs they prescribe are medical miracles and truly do | | | | places where they are getting these drugs. Outside of |
| help people cope with chronic pain and other ailments. | | | | them buying it from friends at school you need to think |
| What we run into is that these drugs people use for | | | | through all the places within your own family where |
| pain and other ailments are very addictive. | | | | your teen can acquire these drugs. Your own home, |
| That is why doctors try to take so many precautions | | | | grandparents, friends, and neighbors houses. Believe |
| on issuing these drugs and how they are ministered to | | | | me there are ample opportunities for your teenager to |
| those who need them. But what we see is that | | | | locate and find prescription drugs. |
| someone can move from being completely dependent | | | | Listen to what Dennis McMaster said in an interview |
| upon them to being addicted to them. | | | | last January; "We're seeing more and more prescribed |
| And when our teenagers get a hold of these drugs | | | | drug abuse among young people, and part of it is the |
| we see them become addicted very quickly. This is | | | | accessibility," said Dennis McMaster, police chief at the |
| not a regional problem but a national one. It is growing | | | | East Pennsboro Police Department. "They're stealing it |
| out of hand in most states! | | | | from mom and dad, grandma and grandpa." |
| "I believe it's become a major threat," said Lt. Gary | | | | One of the problems I see with teens getting addicted |
| Seefeldt of the Lower Paxton Police Department. "I | | | | to prescription drugs is that they are not viewed like |
| know people personally whose kids are hooked on it. | | | | other drugs. Since they are legal and can be acquired |
| When I can say that, that's a problem." | | | | by a doctor it seems like it is less of a crime to take |
| Just as any addict the larger the dosage you take to | | | | and sell these drugs. But don't mistake the law either, |
| keep the high going the greater the withdrawal you will | | | | because if your teen is caught with drugs that are not |
| be feeling. The end result is a need to be on these pills | | | | prescribed to them they will be arrested and charged. |
| all the time. Since your teen is not being prescribed | | | | Especially if caught on school grounds. |
| these drugs it results in them taking drastic measures | | | | But this is a problem that is growing and will not go |
| to obtain new pills and feed their own addiction. | | | | away. Staten Island reported; |
| I actually ran into a teacher who was addicted to | | | | "It's widespread. It's a growing trend of recreational use |
| these prescription drugs. This person would do | | | | mixed with drinking alcohol. It's highly addictive," says |
| anything including scoping out people who had injured | | | | Luke Nasta, the executive director of Camelot |
| themselves so that they could go and ask for pills. | | | | Counseling Centers, who has seen a "gradual, steady |
| Usually stating that they had a headache of some sort. | | | | increase" of teens coming in for prescription drug |
| I use to wonder if they had actually approached a | | | | addiction over the past five years. |
| teenager to obtain these drugs. I would never put it | | | | |