ECISD Proactive about Prescription Drug Abuse
By: Stephanie Sobic
Updated: July 20, 2010
ECISD held a meeting this morning to alert parents about the newest drug of choice in our local schools. Prescription drugs. ECISD Police along with Crime Stoppers and other law enforcement agencies put together a public service announcement to tell people about this growing problem.
Bottom line; its easy access. Now-a-days kids don't have to go to a dealer to score some drugs they can get what they want from a bathroom cabinet. We spoke with one parent at the meeting who said she had no idea this was going on. And, that's why ECISD held this meeting, so parents can become proactive rather than reactive.
"Not that I think my daughter would do that, but the fact of how easy and accessible this stuff really is," says Parent, Fonda Carpio.
Like most of the parents in room, Fonda was overwhelmed with the information she was hearing.
"It’s amazing as far as what these kids won’t pick up," says Fonda.
As we found out no prescription drug is off limits to these teens.
"Xanax, anti-depressants, oxycotin, the over the counter choices are usually cough syrup," explains Lt. Mark Rowden with ECISD Police.
"We had a kid who had got a hold of some birth control pills. Now I don't know what kind of high or what kind of feeling or anything of that," says Susan Rogers with Odessa Crime Stoppers.
Regardless of what kind of high it is, teens aren't holding back. Especially, when easy access means quick cash.
"We're seeing $5 to $8 a pill as much as $12 depending on what it is, is it oxycotin and stuff like that," says Rogers.
Putting the health risk and the fact that it's illegal to steal and sell prescription drugs aside, more and more teens are getting involved.
"One of our main concerns is they're willing to experiment with what will give them that different sensation and the one time they experiment it may be the last," comments Lt. Rowden.
As a parent, Lt. Rowden suggests 2 things; first talk with your kids and educate them on dangers and consequences of buying, selling and using prescription drugs. Second, keep track of the medicine in your home and know if there are pills there. If you have to keep them locked up, because lets face it…easy access is one reason why this problem even started.
