8 months ago
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They're tackling the issue of prescription drug abuse among teens. They're calling it Operation Medicine Cabinet.
Nearly one in five teens report abusing prescription drugs; this comes from the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
That boils down to more than two million teenagers who admit taking pills, to get high.
For safety reason's pain killers, sedatives, narcotics-and other powerful drugs are often stored out of reach behind pharmacy counters, but many times kids only need to open their medicine cabinets-to get them.
"Children are being introduced to drugs at a very young age," says parent Shannon Speights.
"It's just such a raging problem and epidemic that we're having right now across the nation," says Lt. Kevin Russell, Benton Police Department.
To address prescription drug abuse, the police department is launching Operation Medicine Cabinet.
"It's a one day event where people can bring all their old medicines they have you know laying around in their bathrooms or whatever and they get a little reward for doing this," says Lt. Russell.
Police have found cases of kids bringing the prescription drugs to school, sometimes selling them to their classmates.
Public health educator Janice Ray says they may also swap drugs at something called a farm party" which is where they're getting together doing bringing what ever drugs they have and they're putting them all in one container and taking a whatever a handful of this and a handful of that," says Ray.
"If there's one child using than there's one child too many," adds Ray.
In fact, a recent state study found nearly 16 percent of teens in
The Benton Police Department is encouraging parents to properly dispose of old medicine whenever they can. To get the reward, a five dollar gift card, you'll have to turn in your old medication by February sixth.
Benton P.D. says about a year ago, the
Operation Medicine Cabinet on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Participants in the prescription drop off locations will receive $5 gift cards from Walmart and Sonic free drink coupons while supplies last.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., police agencies are setting up four areas for people to drop off prescription medications:
- Goody's parking lot on Military Road
- Benton Police Department at 114 S. East St.
- Bryant Police Department at 312 Roya Lane
- Bryant City Hall at 210 S.W. 3rd St.
