Desk of the DA:
“Parents as Unsuspecting Drug Dealers”
Among my most important
responsibilities as Westchester
County District Attorney is promoting public safety, and as a parent, I am especially
concerned about dangers facing our children and particularly our teenagers. One
topic that deserves our close attention is the increasing rate of abuse of
prescription medicines, over the counter medicines and inhalants in household
products – items that can be found in any home.
The problem is urgent. Children are much more likely
to use and abuse substances found at home than they are to try street drugs.
Everyday, 2,500 teenagers use a prescription drug to get high for the first
time, and 60% of teens who have abused prescription painkillers did so for the
first time before age 15. A 2009 survey of teens reported that 20% of teens in
grades 9-12 had abused prescription drugs at least once, that 8% had abused a
cough medicine in the previous year, and that 10% had used inhalants in the
previous year.(www.drugfree.org)
Inhalants are of particular concern with younger adolescents, as reported rates
of abuse of these substances is highest in the 8th grade. (www.drugabuse.gov)
Prescription drugs include
such medications as Adderall and Ritalin, which are
prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but are also illegally
sold or shared with others. Teens are taking these medications to stay up and
cram for exams, or they are grinding the pills up and snorting them to get
high. This kind of improper use carries the risk of heart attack, stroke,
hallucinations and paranoia. (www.justice.gov/dea)
Perhaps the most frequently
abused prescription medications are narcotic pain relievers sold under brand
names like OxyContin, Percocet
or Vicodin. Taking these medications as prescribed to
relieve pain can carry the risk of addiction, and consuming larger doses
without medical supervision only magnifies this risk. When chewed or snorted, oxycodone creates an instantaneous high, a concentrated
effect that can slow breathing, causing death. ( www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs
)
Over-the-counter medications
are readily available and potentially dangerous. Cough and cold medications
containing DMX, or dextromethorphan,
can create a feeling of euphoria and cause hallucinations when taken in large
doses. This form of drug abuse, often referred to as “robotripping”,
is glorified in hip hop music, and its danger is trivialized as teens mix cough
syrup with soda and candy, such as Skittles or Jolly Ranchers, to serve “sizzurp” at parties. (www.goaskalice.columbia.edu)
Household products such as
aerosols and solvents present problems as well. Children and teens inhale the
fumes produced by these everyday products – including whipped cream, spray
paint, compressed air for cleaning keyboards, and cleaning supplies. This
misuse of inhalants to get high carries an immediate risk of death or organ,
brain or nerve damage.
These are the steps I am
urging everyone to take in order to protect our teens.
·
Keep track of
your family’s prescriptions.
·
Get rid of any
unused prescription medication by returning it to your pharmacist for disposal,
or bringing it to one of Westchester County’s Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Days (April 9th and
10th at Rye Playland; for other dates, visit
www.westchestergov.com); for environmental reasons, it is recommended that you
not dispose of medication in the sink or toilet.
·
Remove any
personal information from empty prescription bottles to prevent someone from
illegally obtaining a refill.
·
Monitor your
children’s use of over the counter medicines.
·
Be alert to
chemical odors on breath or clothes, paint stains on skin, slurred speech and
lack of coordination, as these may indicate the use of inhalants.
·
Always ask where
and with whom your children are spending time.
·
Get help if you
think your child has a problem
To schedule a presentation
on this topic, please contact the District Attorney’s Office of Community
Affairs at 995-3317.