Is there a cure for prescription drug abuse? Is it 15 hour drug classes? That is the $billion question.
If you are alive in America and watch television or read news you know that the abuse of prescription drugs has been on our radar for many years as a growing problem. Some of the research says it’s a growing epidemic. As reported in www.libertytribune.com.
It has been estimated that as many as 1 in 10 high school students has abused a prescription medication in the past 30 days. As a counselor for both in-class and online drug classes I find that number to be excessive, however, the fact remains, there is a serious problem.
Part of the problem is perception. Youth do not have the perception that these drugs are harmful since they are medicine. However, if they are misused, they are as mind-altering and lethal as any illegal drug. It does not help that many begin their use from the medicine cabinet in their own homes.
Do you also think there is a perception in society that using prescription medication is acceptable? As a society, people are unaware that people are misusing prescription drugs or they think it is not like other drugs. If so, I would certainly argue that mandatory drug classes are initiated to educate our public on the dangers of prescription meds.
One avenue to combat this scourge has been to have public forums on the topic where parents can come with their children. In order to win this war it is going to take a strong, combined effort from both parents and the community.