KSCW recently ran a story online showing the necessity for drug rehabs for teens. In a story called, “Prescription High,” Michael Schwanke tells the story of local parents with teens who had become addicted to prescription medications initially found in the home. In an one of the interviews a young woman revealed, “I started…my mom had a lot of surgeries. She had bad knees and a bad back and I would take her prescription medicine,”
She says it started with one pill.
“Then it became several…then a whole bottle.”
This young girl started abusing prescription pain medication when she was 12-years-old.
Unfortunately this story is becoming more common. According to the author, experts say unlike illicit drugs, which have a stigma among teens, prescription drugs are widely accepted in schools. Teens have grown up with them and don’t see them as bad, which means a whole new crowd is using them.
Drug rehabilitation geared toward prescription abuse is available. Addiction is a chronic problem which needs to be addressed before it is too late.