Narconon Looks At Rise In Students Abusing Prescription Drugs

Today’s teen drug abuse problem does not begin with a criminal selling drugs on the street corner. Unfortunately, the problem seems to be starting in the medicine cabinet with the continued rise in prescription drug abuse.  As a result, prescription drugs have become the new illicit drug of concern all around the country, according to Narconon addiction treatment program.

Last week a group of students from Harrah Junior High School in Oklahoma apparently consumed a large variety of prescription drugs while at school.  Three of the students were rushed to the hospital after overdosing on the drugs.  Several more, at least seven, were treated by emergency workers at the high school.

In 2011 alone, reports have come in from schools around the state, including Putnam City North High School and John Marshall Middle School, of students requiring medical attention after ingesting prescription drugs.

Mark Woodward, spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, said that eight out of 10 calls he receives are about prescription drug abuse.

“Kids think prescription drugs are a safer recreation drug to get high, but that is not the case,” Woodward said. “It can be deadly.”

Derry Hallmark Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor and Senior Director for Expansion for Narconon Arrowhead weighs in on the subject.

“In the last decade, prescription drug abuse has exploded and has definitely revealed itself as an epidemic,” said Hallmark. “Community effort through drug education and addiction treatment is necessary for this situation to see improvement.”

Earlier this month, the state Bureau of Narcotics announced it will set up permanent drug disposal boxes in all 77 counties.  The program may be the first permanent, statewide disposal program of its kind around the nation.

“This program will help get the old prescription drugs out of the medicine cabinets of parents, making it less accessible for the youth,” said Hallmark, “Unfortunately, many cases of prescription drug addiction have already occurred and will require drug rehabilitation to handle the issue.”

Narconon Arrowhead, located in Southeast Oklahoma, is one of the world’s largest and most successful addiction treatment centers and is prepared to assist these young adults as they look for help with their drug or alcohol addictions.  Narconon specializes in prescription drug addiction and has approximately a 70% success rate for permanent sobriety from prescription drugs.

“Parents must educate themselves and educate their children on the dangers of prescription drugs,” adds Hallmark.

 Narconon Arrowhead also offers drug education seminars for schools and any other group who is looking for information on the true dangers of addiction and drug abuse.