Pubdate: Mon, 16 Dec 2002
Source: Herald-Dispatch, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002 The Herald-Dispatch
Contact: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/hdinfo/letters.html
Website: http://www.hdonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1454

KEEP AN EYE ON TEEN DRUG ABUSE

An important indicator of student drug use is up in Cabell County schools 
this year, and school officials want parents and guardians to know.

The district had 22 high school expulsions last year for drug or alcohol 
use and five at the middle school level. Already this year, the system has 
seen 18 high school expulsions and four from middle schools.

Too often schools are afraid to go public with such numbers, and we commend 
the leadership of the Cabell district for alerting the community to the 
growing problem.

"Parents need to be aware of the problems their children are having," 
Superintendent David Roach told The Herald-Dispatch. "It's one of the few 
ways we can reach them before it's too late."

One of the troubling wrinkles of the current problem is the number of cases 
that involve prescription drugs that could be coming right out of the 
family medicine cabinet. That's a particular problem for middle school 
students.

Parents, grandparents and guardians need to make sure their medications are 
out of reach and accounted for. Some of the common problems are with 
pain-relievers such as OxyContin and tranquilizers such as Xanax.

A study at the National Institute on Drug Abuse also points to problems 
with psychotherapeutic drugs such as Ritalin. Typically, it's not the teen 
with the prescription abusing the drug, but friends who pressure them to 
share the medication.

Today's teens face a complex world with difficult choices every day.

Although the advice may sound simple, experts still stress the importance 
of involved parents and guardians.

Talk to your children regularly about drugs and alcohol, including the 
dangers of prescription drugs, and keep up with what they are doing.
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