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Health & Fitness

Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse—What Parents and Teens Should Know

"Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse – What Parents and Teens Should Know."

Parents and youth (12 years and older) are invited to attend “Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drug Abuse -What Parents and Teens Should Know” on Wed, Oct.10 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center .

The event and pizza is free and served from 6:30-7 pm. You need to RSVP at 949/470-3062. 

Open Your Eyes Orange County! Pharmageddon is here. Prescription drugs are responsible for more overdoses than heroin or methamphetamine. Did you know overdose deaths outnumbered traffic fatalities nationwide in 2009? Our state has more drug rehabilitation centers than anywhere in the United States, too.

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Visits to the emergency room have doubled from prescription overdose. Addicted to drugs, teens are stealing from their parents, selling drugs, selling their bodies; they are even going to open houses and stealing out of medicine cabinets to support their habits.

Parents are the last to know. They don’t believe it and they are looking past the symptoms. Their intelligent, good looking, funny, talented, athletic and creative kids couldn’t possible be taking drugs. Two out of five teens think prescription drugs are safe. It begins as a social habit—they want to be cool and feel good.

Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Medical experts, O.C. Sheriff's Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and drug abuse survivors will discuss local trends, signs and symptoms of drug abuse, what you can do and answer your questions at this event. You are not prepared to handle this on your own, but you can educate yourselves, do research and be proactive. The “sweet spot” is 10-15 years old for youth to get caught up in this vicious epidemic.

Taking a prescription drug that was prescribed for someone else is illegal. Many people think that abusing prescription drugs are safe because they are prescribed by a doctor, manufactured and regulated. However, they are only safe for the person to whom they were prescribed. If improperly used, prescription drugs can be dangerous and they can cause severe health complications.

The 2011 Monitoring the Future survey, reported that prescription and over-the-counter drugs are the most commonly abused drugs by teens. Kids from 12 to 17 years old said they have used prescription drugs for nonmedical use. Boys tend to use drugs to get high, while girls used the drugs to stay alert and help with studying.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) distributes "Facts on Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs" as a series of fact sheets that are designed to inform educators, mentors, students and parents about the harmful effects of prescription drug abuse. For more information, go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx.

To dispose unwanted or expired medications, the City of Mission Viejo and Waste Management of Orange County provide two lock boxes at the Norman P. Murray Community Center for residents at no cost. Just put the pills in a zip lock bag for disposal. Please call the center for more information at 949/470-3062.

Don’t be afraid to admit there is a problem in your home. There is no shame; it is not your fault. Stand up and be part of the solution. 

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