The local news reported last night that three 12 year old boys were rushed to the hospital after overdosing on precription drugs at Surprise School in El Mirage. The report said a 12 year old girl, also a student at the school, brought the bottle of pills from home. These are just the latest victims of a prescription drug abuse epidemic in our community. 1 out of 4 high school seniors has used a pain killer without a doctor's prescription and 1 out of 6 eighth graders has misused prescription drugs. These children were lucky, they survived. Too many times, we get the calls into our office from parents whose children have taken prescription medication and died. That's right, the epidemic is killing our children and parents must take action. Our kids are being asked to use these drugs at a very young age and we must prepare our kids for the day they will be asked. Tonight, role play with your children about a friend from school asking them if they want to try a pill. Help guide them in what to say. Talk with them about taking pills and let them know it is just as dangerous, addictive and deadly as taking street drugs.
Take action now, go to /drugfreeazkids/rx to educate yourself about the dangers of RX drug misuse.
