The fastest growing form of substance abuse by Iowans is the abuse of prescription drugs, according to the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy.
Obtaining pain killers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone can be as easy as opening a medicine cabinet. There were 2.5 million children, ages 12 and up, who reported using prescription drugs for nonmedical use, according to the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Because a doctor often gives these drugs to the patients, teenagers tend to view these drugs as "safe," and many parents aren't aware of the potential for abuse, according to the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy.
"Prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse is the fastest growing form of substance abuse in America, and now that seems true in Iowa too," said Gary Kendell, director of the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy and Iowa's Drug Policy coordinator.
In Sac County, three juveniles were charged for prescription drug possession in September. A 15-year-old boy was charged with two counts of prohibited acts with prescription drugs after allegedly selling medication to two other boys, ages 15 and 16. The other two boys were charged with unlawful possession of prescription drugs.
"Pharming" parties are becoming very popular across the nation, said Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure in a press release. At those parties, prescription drugs are dumped into a bowl and are consumed by partygoers without knowing what the drugs are, he said.
Parents and grandparents are strongly urged to keep their medications secured at all times and there have been reports of burglaries during which prescription drugs are taken, McClure said.
Assistant Police Chief Kevin Doty, Fort Dodge Police Department, said the problem is only just becoming apparent.
"We usually see situations of prescription drug abuse when investigating other crimes," he said. "Sometimes we'll find someone with many different kinds of pills in one bottle."
Sgt. Jim O'Brien, chief deputy for the Webster County Sheriff's Department, said prescription drug abuse is harder to see.
"The neighbors will notice a meth lab," O'Brien said. "They can see people walking around with ammonia tanks and smell something strange. Prescription drug abuse is more behind the scenes."
He said abusers will sometimes "doctor shop" and get prescriptions from multiple doctors. This is particularly hard to catch because of doctor-patient confidentiality.
However, a new law will go into effect in March that will implement a statewide federally funded electronic Iowa Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. The program will track all the drug use - illegal and legal - of a particular patient, said Terry Witkowski, executive officer with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy.
The program's intention is to help pharmacies and doctors take better care of their patients, he said.
Law enforcement will not have direct access to the information. However, if officers suspect an individual of prescription drug abuse, they can subpoena the information with probable cause and a court order from a judge, he said.
"The program is meant to identify patients before they get to the point of addiction," Witkowski said. "There are concerns that patients maybe are using too much of a particular drug, or, in the cases of chronic pain, may not be getting enough to relieve pain. This program will help doctors make better decisions to help their patients."
Contact Katie Williams at (515) 573-2141 or katie@messengernews.net
