Pubdate: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ) Copyright: 2009 East Valley Tribune. Contact: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708 Author: Leslie Bloom Drugs PRESCRIPTION MISUSE A GROWING DANGER I have been working in drug prevention for many years. It is still troubling to me and our dedicated volunteers when we hear news reports about the possibility of drug overdose related to misuse of prescription drugs. It is widely speculated Michael Jackson died of a drug overdose and reportedly the same for Heath Ledger. While celebrities attract widespread attention in the headlines, let's not forget about our own families and children. We have a big problem here in Arizona. Kids are dying. In Arizona, 12th-graders abuse prescription drugs at twice the national rate. One in four eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders reports using prescription drugs not prescribed to them, according to the Arizona Youth Survey. Is your child one? Intentional misuse of prescription medications is the biggest teen substance use challenge we face today. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be just as dangerous, addictive and even deadly as using "street" drugs; and The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that every day, 2,500 teens abuse a prescription drug for the first time. Aggravating the issue are weak perceptions of risk among both teens and their parents and the ease of access for teens -- drugs are readily available from medicine cabinets or friends. We need everyone's help to address this alarming trend. Precious lives are being taken. Visit our Web site at www.PartnerUpAz.org to find helpful tips to opening the lines of communication that will go a long way in ensuring your children make healthy and responsible lifesaving decisions. LESLIE BLOOM CEO, PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG-FREE AMERICA, ARIZONA AFFILIATE, PHOENIX - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom