Drug Addiction Rx
Drug Addiction Rx Save Email Print
Prescription Addiction
Reporter: Gary Smollen
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

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A disturbing trend has found its way to the heartland: kids raiding medicine cabinets in search of a high.

"James" knows all about prescription drug addiction and how to get the pills. He doesn't want to be identified because he's currently in rehab, but the 16-year-old paints a chilling picture about life in middle school and the drugs that are available.

"James" says, "Other kids take them from their parents. So, I mean, pretty much any kid can have them."

While this is news to many adults, Susan Schlegel, a counselor with Heartland Family Service, knows all about the trend but she says more importantly, your kids know about it too.

Schlegel says, "All young adults are usually about two years ahead of the curve."

While "James" raided his parents' medicine cabinet, other kids, according to Schlegel, are more enterprising.

She says, "I'm amazed sometimes at all the medications that are prescribed for having your wisdom teeth pulled... young people know who's having their wisdom teeth pulled and if they don't want the medications for the pain afterwards you can sell it."

James' parents have taken steps to help their son fight his addition to prescription drugs.

He says, "My parents have a safe for them and they count them every day so you know nothing can go wrong none of them go missing."

Detecting prescription drug use is difficult. There are no odors like there are with marijuana or alcohol but Schlegel says there are indicators in a child's mood and energy level.

For additional information you can call Heartland Family Service or use confidential email on their Web site.

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Posted by: T on Feb 8, 2008 at 10:51 AM
MY 16 SON CAME HOME HIGH AFTER HIM AND HIS FRIENDS CONSUMED PILLS AT THE FRIENDS HOME. THESE KIDS ARE USING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, FROM PAIN KILLERS TO OVER THE COUNTER MOTION SICKNESS PILLS!!!! THE PARENT OF THIS HOME STILL INSISTS WASN'T THIER CHILD!!! WITH THESE KINDS OF PARENTS, I FELL IT IS GOING TO BE AN ENDLESS BATTLE FOR THOSE OF US WHO AREN'T SO LAX!!!! GUARD YOU MEDICINES, AND GUARD YOUR CHILDREN AGAINST THESE KINDS OF HOMES!!!!

Posted by: GOODIDEAMAN on Feb 7, 2008 at 06:54 PM
When I was in JR HIGH I would steal a cigarette or 2. Still smoking by the way. To bad you kids will have to learn the hard way. Please listen to your folks and cut this nonsense!

Posted by: kyle on Feb 7, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Pill addictions can be horrible if not life threatning. Doctors these days hand out pain killes like its candy.. They get money from the drug reps. Something needs to be done for saver procedures when it comes to pain medication..

Posted by: Recovering Addict on Feb 7, 2008 at 04:16 PM
You act as if this is something new! I'm 50 and we did the same thing in Jr High. We all knew whose mom was taking pain meds and whose mom was on diet pills and how many we could take from them. Addiction is not something new but is being looked at differently today. Maybe taken more seriously. Certainly need more treatment facilities today!

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