As parents, relatives, teachers and concerned adults, we spend a lot of time helping youths avoid the challenges that could ruin their lives.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is substance abuse. We talk to them about the hazards of underage alcohol use and the problems associated with abusing marijuana and other dangerous drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. According to national statistics, we are making progress, with some illicit drug use going down over time.
A drug category that requires our attention is prescription drug medications. Today, one in five youths, or 4.5 million young people, have abused prescription drugs (National Council on Parent Information and Education). They are abusing these medications to get high, fall asleep, wake up and deal with stress.
In Marshfield, the 2012 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that 6.9 percent of Marshfield high school students misused painkillers, 5.8 percent misused stimulants and 3.9 percent misused depressants in the past 30 days.
Prescription drugs also are easy to get. Nationally, 70 percent of people who use prescription medications non-medically say they obtain these drugs from friends and relatives (NSDUH 2008), meaning that these drugs are freely shared or taken from medicine cabinets or other accessible places.
How do we protect the rights of those who need these medications to relieve pain while also preventing abuse? Adults need to secure their meds, keep track of their medication quantities and become aware of how to properly dispose of unused medications.
Join Marshfield Area Coalition for Youth, or MACY, in collaboration with Marshfield Clinic, Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital Employee Stewardship Initiative and Dairy Queen by participating in the next U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (prescription drug take-back event at the following locations in Marshfield:
? 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Marshfield Clinic (just inside the main lobby entrance).
? 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital (conference room G, near the hospital cafeteria).
? 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dairy Queen (Northside drive-through window).
Bring medication in the original containers with names and personal information blacked out. Intravenous solutions, injectable medications and needles will not be accepted. Participants will receive a Dairy Queen "buy one, get one free" coupon book.
Through participation in these national events, Marshfield has disposed of nearly 2,000 pounds in the last two years. Those individuals who cannot participate in this national take-back day event can drop off expired, unwanted or unused medications at Marshfield Police Department anytime.