DARE RESPONDS TO NEW TRENDS IN TEEN DRUG USE

The gateway drugs of choice used to be tobacco, marijuana, alcohol and
inhalants. That is what children and teenagers for years have been
told to say no to.

However, with the number of young people who use those drugs steadily
declining, other drugs are beginning to come to the forefront.

"One thing DARE tries to do is to stay on top of what kids are doing,"
said Independence police and DARE officer Allison Verman. "The numbers
of teenagers who are using over-the-counter and prescription drugs
have been increasing. They are easy to get and have now become our new
focus area."

According to the Monitoring the Future survey, conducted by the
Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, 3.5
percent of teenagers reported using OxyContin, a narcotic painkiller,
without the doctor's consent in 2006. This is a 30-percent increase
from 2002.

The survey went on to say that almost 10 percent of high school
seniors reported using Vicodin, a similar painkiller, last year. The
survey asks more than 48,000 students, anonymously, from 410 schools
throughout the country about their drug use. Students are polled from
the eighth, 10th and 12th grades.

"If we have a problem, we work hard to address it in order to knock it
down," Verman said. "Now we are being proactive when it comes to
over-the-counter medications before it becomes worse and is an epidemic."

Some of the drugs frequently used by young people include pain
relievers, depressants, stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin,
tranquilizers and sedatives.

The affects of using these over-the-counter and prescription drugs are
numerous. These include a heightened sense of pleasure, euphoria,
drowsiness, increased energy.

However, many times, these young adults are not aware of the serious
health risks involved with abusing these drugs. Taken as prescribed,
these types of medications can successfully treat a physical or mental
condition. But taken without a physician's orders, these medications
can alter brain activity and lead to debilitating or life-threatening
problems.

"This kind of abuse is happening everywhere in public, private and
even Christian schools. No one is immune," said Matt Mallinson, parent
of state DARE representative Erin Mallinson and an area pharmacist.
"It is so easy for a kid to get sucked in."

Verman said there is a new DARE program being created to address the
use of these kinds of drugs. The program is geared for children of all
ages and simply addresses the facts of prescription drug abuse. She
said by educating students, the DARE organization and area law
enforcement can address the problem before it gets even bigger.

"Over-the-counter and prescription drugs have an intended purpose.
Using too much can lead to an addiction," she said. "We are helping
kids to understand that over-the-counter medications are not safe just
because you can buy them at the store. Maybe that will help to avoid
Skittle parties later (see related story).

"Any community who says it does not have a drug problem is lying to
itself or ignorant," she said. "For me not to have a job anymore
because no one is using drugs would be the coolest thing in the world.
But that is not reality. One kid is too many."