Lock It Up is a Good Start
Prescription drug use among teens has increased over the past few years. Benzodiazepines and opiate painkillers can produce a type of euphoria and carry the illusion of being safe, so adolescents are more inclined to try them over other drugs. Studies show youths saying that these drugs are easier to obtain than alcohol. So a program in Fresno, CA, named Lock It Up, aims to cut the supply from its largest source.
Lock It Up is an awareness campaign that will educate the public about prevention efforts that can be implemented in the home. Here is a little more information:
The article states that “More than 70 percent of teens who abuse prescription painkillers say they get them from family, relatives and friends.” What they don’t mention is that most of the people they get the drugs from have no idea that they are gone. This is why the Lock It Up project is such a good idea. Most parents will quickly take action if they know that they are unwittingly supplying the teen prescription drug trade.
When non-addict adults are prescribed painkillers or anti-anxiety medications, like Xanax, they will often not use the entire amount of pills prescribed to them. The need for them runs its course or they just don’t like them, and they leave remaining pills to be forgotten. This leaves 5, 10, 20, or more powerful tablets unattended in the medicine cabinet. Even if the empty bottle is found after the pills are long gone, a child may have already overdosed on them.
Fresno citizens will learn to lock away or dispose of medications properly. This can put a very large dent in the prescription drug street market. Both parents and teens need to know that prescription drugs are not safe for recreational use, and they can easily cause fatalities from an overdose. Opiates and benzodiazepines are highly addictive, and can ruin a teen’s growing years and cause struggles in adulthood. Let’s all follow Fresno’s lead.
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides a full array of health care services including adult and youth alcohol and drug treatment. We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley. If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 888-777-8565 or contact us using our secure contact form.
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