It’s highly addictive, and growing in popularity alongside methamphetamines, marijuana and other drugs. And it may be sitting right in your medicine cabinet.

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in the United States, while many of those users are teens and young adults. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America estimated in a recent study that one in five teenagers (4.3 million) admit to using the prescription pain killer Vicodin, while one in 10 (2.3 million) tried OxyContin. One in 10 teens admits using Ritalin and Adderal.

It’s a problem Chippewa Valley area schools, and other officials are taking note of. Jean Christenson, Student Services Department staff member for the Eau Claire Area School District and Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Prevention Coordinator says the district is taking steps to keep the problem under control.

“We are certainly taking efforts to create awareness around the issue to keep use low,” Christenson said. “While we are hearing more about it, the abuse of prescription drugs in the Eau Claire area is very low.”

On April 22, Christenson and other area agencies held a forum, “Bad Medicine.” Topics included prescription drug abuse in schools, the dangers of mixing prescription medications, consequences for being cited for prescription drug abuse, and what our community can do to eradicate the problem. The event also featured a medication drop-off, giving Chippewa Valley residents the opportunity to dispose of their old and unused medications.

Christenson also worked on a survey, given to 2663 students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 within the Eau Claire Area School District. When asked how many times students had taken prescription drugs, 90 percent hadn’t, while 92.1 percent hadn’t used over-the-counter drugs to get high. When asked about their non-medical drug use, 10 percent had taken a prescription drug without a prescription at least once in their life, 7.9 percent had taken over-the-counter drugs to get high at least once in their life, and 4 percent had taken OTC medications recreationally in the past month.

Julie Keown-Bomar, family living educator for UW-Extension, was involved with “Bad Medicine,” and says the event “netted 128 pounds of unwanted prescription medication and helped to promote community awareness about prescription drug abuse.” Keown-Bomar believes prescription drug abuse has indeed become a bigger problem in our area in recent years.

“Although meth continues to be a part of the drug scene, prescription drug abuse is the most pervasive and prevalent drug problem in the area right now,” she said. “Youth can easily obtain prescription drugs from friends or relatives, and reports of ‘pharm’ parties, where kids take medications from a communal bowl, are reported in Wisconsin.”

Kirk Olson, an investigator with the West Central Drug Task force, believes prescription drug abuse is more of an issue in the Chippewa Valley. He says “ma and pa” methamphetamine labs have begun to disappear, but there’s now an increase in pharmaceuticals. He says kids are bringing stashes of prescription drugs to school, and taking cough syrups to get high. “Young kids don’t know what they’re getting into.”

Keown-Bomar says there’s a variety of warning signs for parents to look for if they suspect their child may be abusing prescription medications. These include changes in personal hygiene, forgetfulness, school performance, friends and weight loss. She believes prevention is the key.

“If parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, neighbors, and folks from all sectors of our community are made more aware of the dangers, they can take steps to dispose of unwanted medications, get the ones they use out of reach, and talk to others so that we are more protected as a community.”

Alongside education, communication with teens and young adults is essential. 

 “Parents need to talk to their kids and let them know that prescription drugs are only intended to be used according to a doctor’s orders, and that they are dangerous when used otherwise,” Keown-Bomar said.