Pubdate: Mon, 15 Sep 2008
Source: Hendersonville Times-News (NC)
Copyright: 2008 Hendersonville Newspaper Corporation
Contact:  http://www.blueridgenow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/793
Author: John Harbin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE ON THE RISE

Police officers who teach young children to stay away from drugs say 
prescription drug abuse has become more common.

Sheriff Rick Davis and District Attorney Jeff Hunt announced last 
week that second-degree murder charges were filed against a 
23-year-old Fletcher man in connection with the death of a 
19-year-old who died of a Fentanyl overdose. An increasing number of 
abuse cases and overdoses such as this led D.A.R.E. officers to add 
prescription drugs to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, 
and even more focus may be needed.

"The curriculum changed about four years ago," said Hendersonville 
Police Lt. Tim Griffin, who has taught D.A.R.E. in Hendersonville 
schools for many years. "Even though it touches on the problem with 
prescription drugs, we have to add more information to it." D.A.R.E. 
programs are held in Henderson County fifth-grade classes to teach 
children skills to avoid drugs and violence.

Last Monday, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office arrested 
23-year-old James Michael Arnold of Fletcher and charged him with 
second-degree murder, possession with the intent to sell or deliver a 
controlled substance and selling or delivering a controlled 
substance. Investigators say Arnold provided the highly potent 
painkiller Fentanyl to 19-year-old Justin Kane Anderson, who overdosed in July.

"Prescription drugs are now one of the top abused drugs among teens," 
Griffin said. "The reason it is so highly abused is because it is so 
easy to get. We have heard of cases where kids are getting dental 
work done and they are selling the medications they receive prior to 
having the work done." Griffin said Fentanyl is a new problem 
plaguing kids today. "Once people found out how addicting it was, it 
has become one of the more sought after drugs," Griffin said.

Warning signs Along with Fentanyl, Griffin said they also see other 
prescription drugs being abused.

"We still see hydrocodone being abused, but that drug has a 
short-lasting effect," he said. "I compare Fentanyl to 
methamphetamine, where meth can last up to 12 to 18 hours." Sheriff's 
Office Cpl. Ricky Bishop, who also teaches D.A.R.E., adds lessons 
about prescription drugs into his classes.

"We teach the kids that even taking legally prescribed drugs in the 
wrong manner is drug abuse," he said.

Bishop said parents can notice simple things such as changes in the 
child's grades, attitude and withdrawing from the family to alert 
them to the possibility their child may be abusing drugs.

"Parents can also monitor their children's cell phones and text 
messages," he said. Practice vigilance Griffin said the D.A.R.E. 
curriculum is often tweaked based on local trends. He warned that 
parents who are prescribed narcotics should keep them under lock and key.

"Anything that's this risky, keep it secure," he said. "Keep up with 
the numbers. With Fentanyl, count the patches. Parents should count 
their pills." Griffin said that often kids don't understand how these 
drugs work and that can cause an overdose.

"If they don't get an immediate high, they may apply another patch or 
chew on it and that will give them a lethal dose," he said. Sheriff's 
Office Sgt. Gloria Nock said she often compares prescription drugs in 
the home to having a gun in the house. "It can be just as lethal," she said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom