Concerns About Abuse of Prescription Drugs

As you may or may not be aware, the topic of prescription medication use among young people was recently a focus of national media attention. In fact, this topic has been a concern for the nation as a whole and school communities in particular for some time. A report from The Partners for Drug-Free America (2007) notes “The Intentional use of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications to get high is now entrenched among today’s teen population…” In fact, according to that same study, findings indicate that nearly one in five (19% of all teens) has tried prescription medication to get high. In addition, other statistics indicate:

• One in five teens report abusing prescription pain medication
• One in five reported abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers, and
• One in ten teens has abused cough medicine

We at Chautauqua Lake Central School District not only take this information seriously, but are also not naïve enough to assume that the national statistics do not apply here. The fact that prescription medication is readily available from many sources including the households of family and friends is disturbing. When you combine this with the reality that such medications can be easily concealed and transferred from one individual to another, the situation is alarming and requires our immediate attention.

The Chautauqua Lake Central School District will not allow this epidemic problem to go unaddressed and will immediately take the following actions:

• We will use all of our media resources to provide information and education to students, parents, and others about the issues associated with prescription medication experimentation/abuse.
• We will increase our vigilance of potential prescription use/abuse at school by providing signs/symptoms for staff to identify.
• We will activate our Community Coalition to further discuss this topic and develop a community-wide prevention/intervention plan that brings this issue into the open and at the forefront of parent/community concern.
• We will consult with law enforcement officials to consider other solutions for prevention and intervention.

We have a wonderful school district at CLCS, have some of the best children attending school, have a skilled and dedicated staff, and have a caring and involved community. Unfortunately, like so many districts in this country, we are facing numerous and significant societal challenges. While abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medication is just one of those challenges, it is one we must focus all of our attention on at this time. Please join us in making this a serious priority and help us eliminate it from the CLCS district.

For more information or to discuss this further, please contact your child’s building principal. In addition, feel free to call my office and speak with me at (716) 753-5808. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Benjamin B. Spitzer, Superintendent