05/25/08 - Here is an idea Arrest a few parents, publish their names in the paper and see how fast the parties come to an end

Teen pill parties growing in town

Quote:

"We're not seeing it ourselves, but when we interview the kids, they are telling us there is a high volume of prescription drug use,"said Richard Stook, a town neighborhood resource officer.

Story:

Placed next to the chips and salsa is a bowl filled with prescription pills. This is how casually some teens view using pain killers or mood-altering drugs at parties.

And although "pharming" or "bowling" parties are not new, they have become a growing problem in town and throughout Fairfield County, according to Stephanie Paulmeno, community health planner for the town Health Department...

...Many prescription drugs labels state the dangers of taking more than one medication at a time, or using with alcohol, but most teens ignore this, Paulmeno said.

"Who knows what they are mixing at these parties. The interactions of these drugs can be catastrophic," Paulmeno said.

Teens readily have access to these drugs, either from their parents or friends' medicine cabinets. Many people keep old prescriptions, but this can have dire consequences.

"Parents should keep their prescriptions locked up and dispose of the bottles after use,...
...Despite the lack of specific data, statistics show that individuals in a higher- socioeconomic status are the ones most often abusing prescription pills, making Greenwich a community at risk, according to Gillespie.

The Health Department and other agencies are looking to survey teens on this issue and find out who and why they are engaging in this behavior. If officials can learn more than perhaps more can be done to prevent the rise of teens hospitalized for this emerging problem, Paulmeno said.

"If we have more information, than more can be done to address it," she said.

Full Story: Greenwich Time

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