With the growing problem of prescription drug abuse across the country, a local high school is trying to hit the issue before it becomes a problem by educating its students.
Students at Cumberland Valley High School have to bring any prescription or over the counter drugs, even cough drops, to the nurse’s office to get permission before having them at school.
This is all part of the plan to try and stop drug abuse before it becomes a problem.
"Right now prescription drug overdose deaths outnumber those by firearm by 300%," cited Craig LeCadre, Senior Supervisor and Special Agent for the Attorney General’s Office.
Wednesday, Cumberland Valley High School held an assembly to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse, which has been a growing problem around the country and right here in Central Pennsylvania.
"It's like anything in life, if we can get a couple kids to think twice, I know we can't change them all,” explained Cumberland Valley High School Principal Judy Baumgardner. “In an idealistic world that would be awesome, but you know, if we can change their minds and get them thinking about their decision, that's what our aim is.'
Special Agent Craig LeCadre from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General spoke to students to help them become aware and know the risks.
"I think it's great when it doesn't always come from us," Baumgardner added.
Pennsylvania is the eighth largest state with the third largest senior population in the country, which means there are a lot of prescription drugs.
"Anytime you have a large number of senior citizens you have a large number of controlled substances in the home environment and those drugs need to be secured because children get most of their pharmaceutical drugs for free at home," LeCadre told us.
LeCadre suggests that prescription drugs need to be secured like firearms, making sure they're safe from children.
"Discuss these issues with your children and if you have pharmaceutical drugs in the household, take, exercise due care and diligence to secure them and make sure they're being used appropriately as the doctor ordered," LeCadre advised.
"Parents always have to be in communication with their kids,” Baumgardner wanred. “It is tough being a parent and it's really tough being a teenager these days, way tougher than when I went to school. Things are more readily available. So I think it's that constant talking to your kids."
The one thing the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office wanted to stress is that you should be aware of what's in your medicine cabinets. Many people have drugs leftover drugs that they no longer plan on using or ones that are even expired and those are commonly the drugs abused.
There are also many drug take-backs throughout the year at local grocery stores, which provides a safe way to get rid of unused drugs.
Students at Cumberland Valley High School have to bring any prescription or over the counter drugs, even cough drops, to the nurse’s office to get permission before having them at school.
This is all part of the plan to try and stop drug abuse before it becomes a problem.
"Right now prescription drug overdose deaths outnumber those by firearm by 300%," cited Craig LeCadre, Senior Supervisor and Special Agent for the Attorney General’s Office.
Wednesday, Cumberland Valley High School held an assembly to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse, which has been a growing problem around the country and right here in Central Pennsylvania.
"It's like anything in life, if we can get a couple kids to think twice, I know we can't change them all,” explained Cumberland Valley High School Principal Judy Baumgardner. “In an idealistic world that would be awesome, but you know, if we can change their minds and get them thinking about their decision, that's what our aim is.'
Special Agent Craig LeCadre from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General spoke to students to help them become aware and know the risks.
"I think it's great when it doesn't always come from us," Baumgardner added.
Pennsylvania is the eighth largest state with the third largest senior population in the country, which means there are a lot of prescription drugs.
"Anytime you have a large number of senior citizens you have a large number of controlled substances in the home environment and those drugs need to be secured because children get most of their pharmaceutical drugs for free at home," LeCadre told us.
LeCadre suggests that prescription drugs need to be secured like firearms, making sure they're safe from children.
"Discuss these issues with your children and if you have pharmaceutical drugs in the household, take, exercise due care and diligence to secure them and make sure they're being used appropriately as the doctor ordered," LeCadre advised.
"Parents always have to be in communication with their kids,” Baumgardner wanred. “It is tough being a parent and it's really tough being a teenager these days, way tougher than when I went to school. Things are more readily available. So I think it's that constant talking to your kids."
The one thing the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office wanted to stress is that you should be aware of what's in your medicine cabinets. Many people have drugs leftover drugs that they no longer plan on using or ones that are even expired and those are commonly the drugs abused.
There are also many drug take-backs throughout the year at local grocery stores, which provides a safe way to get rid of unused drugs.