PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE ON THE RISE

Police officers who teach young children to stay away from drugs say
prescription drug abuse has become more common.

Sheriff Rick Davis and District Attorney Jeff Hunt announced last
week that second-degree murder charges were filed against a
23-year-old Fletcher man in connection with the death of a
19-year-old who died of a Fentanyl overdose. An increasing number of
abuse cases and overdoses such as this led D.A.R.E. officers to add
prescription drugs to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program,
and even more focus may be needed.

"The curriculum changed about four years ago," said Hendersonville
Police Lt. Tim Griffin, who has taught D.A.R.E. in Hendersonville
schools for many years. "Even though it touches on the problem with
prescription drugs, we have to add more information to it." D.A.R.E.
programs are held in Henderson County fifth-grade classes to teach
children skills to avoid drugs and violence.

Last Monday, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office arrested
23-year-old James Michael Arnold of Fletcher and charged him with
second-degree murder, possession with the intent to sell or deliver a
controlled substance and selling or delivering a controlled
substance. Investigators say Arnold provided the highly potent
painkiller Fentanyl to 19-year-old Justin Kane Anderson, who overdosed in July.

"Prescription drugs are now one of the top abused drugs among teens,"
Griffin said. "The reason it is so highly abused is because it is so
easy to get. We have heard of cases where kids are getting dental
work done and they are selling the medications they receive prior to
having the work done." Griffin said Fentanyl is a new problem
plaguing kids today. "Once people found out how addicting it was, it
has become one of the more sought after drugs," Griffin said.

Warning signs Along with Fentanyl, Griffin said they also see other
prescription drugs being abused.

"We still see hydrocodone being abused, but that drug has a
short-lasting effect," he said. "I compare Fentanyl to
methamphetamine, where meth can last up to 12 to 18 hours." Sheriff's
Office Cpl. Ricky Bishop, who also teaches D.A.R.E., adds lessons
about prescription drugs into his classes.

"We teach the kids that even taking legally prescribed drugs in the
wrong manner is drug abuse," he said.

Bishop said parents can notice simple things such as changes in the
child's grades, attitude and withdrawing from the family to alert
them to the possibility their child may be abusing drugs.

"Parents can also monitor their children's cell phones and text
messages," he said. Practice vigilance Griffin said the D.A.R.E.
curriculum is often tweaked based on local trends. He warned that
parents who are prescribed narcotics should keep them under lock and key.

"Anything that's this risky, keep it secure," he said. "Keep up with
the numbers. With Fentanyl, count the patches. Parents should count
their pills." Griffin said that often kids don't understand how these
drugs work and that can cause an overdose.

"If they don't get an immediate high, they may apply another patch or
chew on it and that will give them a lethal dose," he said. Sheriff's
Office Sgt. Gloria Nock said she often compares prescription drugs in
the home to having a gun in the house. "It can be just as lethal," she said.