Federal Government rolls out action plan
The Federal Government is rolling out a plan aimed at reducing what it calls the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in the country. It will involve several agencies---the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Defense and more---and will encourage states to expand prescription drug monitoring, will urge more education for patients and health care providers, will increase law enforcement, and will encourage more community-based safe disposal of unused prescriptions. The campaign targets several brand name products known under the generic names oxycodone, methadone and morphine---you can read the complete federal plan
Here in Central New York, the Prevention Network is already active against drug and alcohol abuse.
"It's a huge problem" says Beth Hurny, the Director of Youth and Parenting Services---two young people have committed suicide recently, connected with prescription drug use. Hurny says there have been lots of requests from schools to do educational programs, but it's not just students who are affected--lots of adults abuse as well.
Alis Sefick, the agency's Resources Coordinator, says Prevention Network can be a referral source for people who need to find medical help or other kinds of support related to drug and alcohol abuse, but they also serve as a coordinator for community efforts aimed at enforcing or changing policy on the issues, and that they encourage people to get involved to make changes for the better.
One outreach effort is Teen Institute, and as we visited the agency's Syracuse offices on Tuesday, some of its members were there, working on blankets for the needy---a safe way of having fun. "We want to set a good example," Shelby Robinson told us.
The Teen Institute members work in their high schools to encourage safe choices. "I think teenagers are bored," says teen Liam Brand, who says drugs may be a way to have fun. He also points out that they're readily available--if not in your own medicine cabinet, then in a neighbors, and 'pharm parties' are a way to swap pills, often with scary and sometimes tragic consequences. Teen Sara Tily chimed in, that one reason prescription drugs are so popular, is that they are so easy to find...even dogs' prescriptions are fair game.
The federal initiative will encourage more community disposal options for unused prescriptions. Flushing the pills is no longer acceptable---it pollutes our drinking water. One such drug drop will happen this Saturday at Kinney Drugs on Electronics Parkway in Liverpool, others are in Auburn, Watertown and Whitesboro. All run 9am - 5pm. Read the list of what can and cannot be dropped off.
