Teen prescription-drug abuse grows
Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008
BENTONVILLE — While methamphetamine remains the main drug in the area, local narcotics investigators are alarmed at the dangers posed by prescription drugs, especially to teens.
Travis Newell, a narcotics investigator with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, said law-enforcement personnel are now buying more prescription drugs in undercover operations.
A Rogers undercover officer said his department is seeing more cases involving the sale of prescription drugs. People are coming to us telling us that so and so are selling pills, ” the officer said.
Newell has heard of at least three suspected overdose deaths in recent months involving teens or young adults.
“ It may begin as going in their parents’ medicine cabinet and taking a few pills but leads to buying pills or finally stealing pills or actually breaking into pharmacies to get the drugs, ” Newell said.
Sgt. Jarred Crabtree, who heads the narcotics unit for the Sheriff’s Office, said the average person may not see prescription drugs as a serious threat, but law enforcement agencies can not ignore that threat.
“(Prescription drugs ) may not be sexy to the public, as other drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine, ” Crabtree said. “ It’s becoming a huge problem for our kids. ”
According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, overall teen drug use is down nationwide, but more teens abuse prescription drugs than any other illicit drug, except marijuana. Every day, 2, 500 children ages 12 to 17 abuse a prescription painkiller for the first time. Drug-treatment admissions for prescription painkillers increased more than 300 percent from 1995 to 2005. A 2007 study by the National Drug Control Council found that prescription-drug abuse by Arkansas youth between the ages of 12 and 17 is higher than prescription-drug abuse by teens in any other state in the United States.
Crabtree believes many teens see prescription drugs as a “ safe” high.
“ Some may believe it’s safe because the medication was prescribed by a doctor, but they are unaware that taking the medication can end in deadly or life-threatening results, ” Crabtree said.
Deputy Prosecutor Bryan Sexton said his office deals with at least one case a week involving juveniles and prescription drugs.
Benton County Juvenile Probation Officer Brent Jensen described prescription drugs as the new gateway drug. “ Many kids can go into their parents’ cabinets and grab whatever they need, ” Jensen said.
Drew Shover, another Benton County juvenile probation officer, said one of the problems he sees is juveniles getting their parents’ medication and then taking the medication to give or sell to friends.
“ They are playing Russian roulette with pills, ” Jensen said.
Clark Wilkerson, director of development at Decision Point Inc., said prescription-drug abuse, especially among children or teens, is a growing problem.
“ We are now seeing prescription pills and drugs in our junior high schools, ” Wilkerson said. “ Teenagers and children look at prescription drugs as it is not methamphetamine and cocaine, so it is not as bad. ”
Wilkerson said prescription drugs are readily available to teens. Most parents probably have prescribed drugs in a medicine cabinet. The drugs can also be purchased off the Internet or from dealers, Wilkerson said.
“ It can start by simply stealing pills from parents, ” Wilkerson said. “ Through experimentation, a teen takes too much and overdoses or becomes addicted. ”
Newell and Crabtree said they had heard from confidential informants about teens holding so-called “ pharm parties. ”
Crabtree said one informant told him about a party where teens had two bowls — one container of uppers and another filled with downers.
Officials say parents need to keep certain medications locked away. Sexton said parents should dispose of any old medications instead of keeping stocks of prescribed drugs in the homes.
Although Decision Point does not treat teens, Wilkerson encouraged parents who suspect their children may have a substance-abuse problem to call Decision Point and parents will be provided information for the appropriate places to seek assistance.
Shover said he and other probation officers have had clients who have died as a result of drug use.
“ I’ve had kids pass away … overdose, ” Shover said. “ That’s the sad part because some kids just don’t have a clue. ”
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