9 Comments so far

1. pure_gen on October 8, 2009 10:02 pm

   Truthful education first and foremost. Youth are receiving mixed messages from so many different places that they do not know what to believe. This leads to distrust even when the truth is spoken.
   According to the Controlled Substances Act oxycodone is safer than cannabis. Rational adults know that’s not true. As long as children are led to believe that manufactured and FDA approved pharmaceuticals are always safer than illicit drugs this problem will only expand. It needs to be understood that poisons from a lab are just as dangerous if not more so than the ones that come from the ground.
   Undoing the damage done by decades of misinformation is a monumental task.
   As to where they are getting the substances, others have answered correctly. Right out of the medicine cabinet. This one of the very few things Partnership for a Drug-Free America ads are not lying about.

2. skycat on October 8, 2009 10:09 pm

   They are stealing it from their parents and grandparents. Parents need to get involved in their kids lives and open the lines of communication. So many adults are unnecessarily on prescription drugs to begin with. They are setting their kids up for quick fixes and pop these pills in front of them like vitamins as they whine about their aches and pains. So when a serious illness occurs the kid has no remorse in stealing because these drugs are so readily available.
   We can create stiffer penalties, more laws, but the one thing the law can’t do is drill it into the parents head that they caused the problem to begin with.
   I have see this over and over again. A kid gets into trouble after they get involved in a subculture or group they are accepted. They follow the leader and parents either allow it or don’t notice. Nobody knows what to do about it so policy is created in the school system that doesn’t work, more laws made, fines are higher and nothing changes for the better.
   All due to parents who can’t get it together.

3. John on October 8, 2009 11:07 pm

   They will get prescription ones from friends with injuries or their parents medicine cabinet. Many people at skate parks, schools and parks have a prescription and are the local dealer. Nothing much can be done except for monitoring them closely and having lots of coversations about abuse. Also scare them with an unexpected drug test at random times throught the year.

4. Jimmy Page on October 8, 2009 11:28 pm

   Epidemic? What epidemic? Some lady came up to me with a pamphlet on youth using prescription drugs and told me “More youth are using prescription drugs than cocaine these days”…..
   I was really tempted to say that was obvious…seeing as how very little youth use cocaine! The only person I know who uses prescription drugs is using them for acne.
   If there really is an “epidemic” and I’m just oblivious to this, let them do whatever they want. Your question should be “where are they getting all the pot?!”

5. Josie826 on October 9, 2009 12:26 am

   In our society, we seem to take a pill for everything. Sad, take a pill. In pain, take a pill. Can’t sleep, take a pill. Can’t stay awake, take a pill. We are a pill popping society. That being said, there are some very helpful meds out there and taking them out of the hands of people that need them is wrong. Why should authorities be responsible for controlling the problem? Parents need to keep and eye on their medications and make sure that their kids aren’t taking them. If you no longer need a medication, get rid of it. We are always looking to someone else to take care of our problems and responsibilities. Watch your own medications and if you feel your child is abusing them, confront them. Yes mom and dad, it is okay for you to confront your child and discipline them if they need it!

6. holden35 on October 9, 2009 12:49 am

   Drugs come in many forms and it is psychiatric doctors that kill innocent people in society.I met a person who walked around with cats eye’s on his shot gun this person was scum dealing drugs to the innocent.I am the emeny of all drugs dealers as they take lives.David

7. yousof Amd on October 9, 2009 1:22 am

   I think you can find your answers here : http://drugaddictionsnews.com

8. Matthew on October 9, 2009 1:42 am

   I don’t know, stop producing the drug. It is up to the individual if they choose to do drugs and no one else.

9. Justin Case on October 9, 2009 2:05 am

   They’re probably stealing them from dear ol’ mom’s medicine cabinet.