Every day, 2,500 teenagers use a prescription drug to get high for the first time. Prescription drugs out ranked the use of marijuana as the most used drug by youth age 15-17 in the United States. 74% of inpatient treatment by adolescents is because of prescription drug use vs. illicit drugs or even alcohol.
Kent County is not immune. Our community is seeing a higher incidence of prescription drug abuse as indicated in a recent article by the Chester River Hospital Center. The Emergency Department personnel attest to the rise in youth who present with overdose symptoms. Hospital personnel, on occasion, have to use progressive measures to restore normal body rhythms.
The Kent County Adolescent Substance Abuse Coalition (ASAC), Kent County Behaviroal Health (KCBH) and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office spent the last few months “rounding up” prescription drugs by providing drop-off locations throughout the county. A deputy sheriff was stationed for 2 to 3 hours on a given date in Betterton, Galena, Millington, Rock Hall and Chestertown as well as Heron Point, to give citizens an opportunity to return expired or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs to law enforcement…no questions asked…to reduce the availability of prescription drugs. The most common place for youth to acquire these drugs is in their own home.
On June 16th at 11:00 a.m. the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with ASAC and KCBH, welcomes the public to an event to demonstrate the results of the Rx Roundups as we send these drugs on for proper disposal.
The public is invited to come and join us for the media event and view the amount of drugs collected. Members of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Coalition and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office will be present to speak briefly about our efforts. In addition, Michael Koscinski, Project Officer of the Drug Free Communities Support Program operating from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be in attendance as well.
3 comments:
No they shouldn't!
Because of what they are going to do with them....they will be flushed all at the same time and everything within flush range on the closest water way is going to be poisoned!
Stop promoting this Nanny State BS
Think about it.
Kid's will do drugs no matter what, people have looked for a way to change their reality since the the begining and having the cops take your prescriptions for you isn't going to make it any better.
Oh and by the way...is someone going to be recording EXACTLY how many PILLS are being brought in and how many are being destroyed.
There are a lot of working responsible adults that are addicts too, and they will not pass up the opportunity to pocket a few unused scripts
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) a "controlled dangerous substance" -- that's absurd!
Half of the older population take it every day.
Why not aspirin, too?
Regarding the comment from 2:23 PM-This was a "Prescription Pill Roundup" and Lipitor was not listed in the column with the other CDS. These organizations are trying to limit the availability of presciption medications to our youth. What are you complaining about?
Regarding the comments from 11:37 AM- Your hatred towards law enforcement does not speech well of your character. Also law enforcement have strict rules on how to dispose of drugs and it is not flushing them down the toilet. Not every action is negative!
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