For the 10th year, Greenbrier Medical Arts Pharmacy and the Lewisburg Police Department conducted a Prescription and Drug Abuse Awareness program in partnership with Eastern Greenbrier Middle School (EGMS). The program curriculum is classroom-based and designed to help educate seventh grade students about the facts and dangers regarding the misuse of prescription drugs, OTC medications and other drugs of abuse.
“According to the National Institutes of Health, more young people age 12-17 are now abusing prescription drugs than all other illicit drugs combined, with the exception of marijuana. Four out of 10 teens believe that prescription medicines are much safer to abuse than illicit drugs, even if they are not prescribed to them for medical reasons,” said Lt. Jeromy Dove, community educator and D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officer with the Lewisburg Police Department.
“Parents play an important role in dramatically reducing teen abuse and access to prescription drugs since they are most often found in the home. It’s time to have frequent and detailed conversations with your teen about the risks of misusing these medications,” Dove said.