Before school ends and summer begins, hurry to clean your medicine cabinets. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), more than 1.9million people in the US suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription pain medication in 2013, and studies have shown that two-thirds of teens who abuse prescription drugs are getting them from cabinets in the home. But it's not just teens - it's adults too. People who misuse prescription pain medications are 19 times more likely to start using heroin than those who do not misuse prescription meds. Click here to see a PTA mom and a college student tell their stories about drug addiction and heroin use that recently aired on the Dr. Oz Show.

If your child, spouse or friend is abusing opioids (prescription pain medicines such as Percocet or Vicodin, and street drugs such as heroin), attend the free training offered by the Howard County Health Department. Register by calling the Health Department at 410-313-6202.

On October 1, 2014, Maryland put into effect the Good Samaritan Law which protects a person from getting into trouble if they summon aid for someone else who is overdosing on drugs or alcohol. As an example, if a Maryland teenager is drinking alcohol with a teenage friend and the friend becomes sick, neither will get into trouble if they call for help, even though they are both underage. Teach your teenager to always be a Good Samaritan and don't hesitate to call for medical help if they think a friend might be overdosing. It's better to be safe than really sorry later! For more information, please visit www.hcdrugfree.org/laws-regulations.

HC DrugFree's Teen Advisory Council is taking the summer off, but it's not too early for teens to submit their application for next school year. Go to www.hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council for more information, or click here to download an application form. 

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