New Jersey towns ban together to combat teen drug abuse

By Staff Writer

Communities in New Jersey are making a concerted effort to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

On November 13, more than 100 collection centers throughout the Garden State will participate in the American Medicine Chest Challenge, which is a one-day initiative that encourages residents to dispose of unused and expired medication, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

The prevalence of recreational pill use is a concern for New Jersey officials, as one county sheriff reported that her department has seized 44,000 doses of illegal prescription drugs in the last 15 months.

The news provider reports that one teenager, who is currently in a drug treatment center, shared his story of pill addiction during a recent press conference. At age 15, the adolescent began abusing prescription drugs and stole them from his friends and neighbors. By 17, he was stealing Oxycontin, an opioid, from his grandfather, who was taking the medication to treat cancer-related pain.

Now 19, he is attempting to spread the message that prescription drug abuse can ruin lives.

According to a study done by the National Center On Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, recreational use of prescription drugs by teens increased 93 percent between 1993 and 2005.