Dear editor:
A couple of weeks ago, I read an article about the police being called out to a teenage party. I found out that the kids at the party were trading prescription drugs and drinking. I couldn't believe that a bunch of 14-year-olds would have access to prescription drugs and alcohol, none the less get together and do something like that. Little did I know, things like that happen all the time.
Underage drinking and prescription drug abuse continue to plague youth populations across the country. Some believe that these topics have been discussed so much that young people should simply know the dangers. Knowing the dangers and taking action are two different things. Additionally, there are some consequences from underage drinking and prescription drug abuse that neither adults nor young people may even be aware of.
According to the 2013 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA) Student Survey, "The first incidence of more than one sip of alcohol occurs at 12.8 years old, and the first regular use of alcohol was at 14.2 years old. As it pertains to marijuana use, the average age of first use was 13.7 years old."
As it pertains to prescription drug abuse, "Arkansas has consistently ranked among the 10 states with the highest rate of nonmedical use of pain relievers by 12- to 25-year-old individuals since state estimates of this measure first began in 2002." (SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, Short Report on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues -- Arkansas, December 2008).
The following organization has joined forces with the Division of Behavioral Health Services, Prevention Services to prevent the underage drinking and prescription drug abuse epidemic: Ouachita Children's Center.
This group will be executing community-based activities to educate local youths about underage drinking and prescription drug abuse.
For more information, visit http://www.takeactionar.com or call 501-686-9164.
Submitted by
Division of Behavioral Health Services,
Prevention Services in Arkansas
Editorial on 05/02/2015