Prescription party
Updated: October 1, 2012
CHAMPAIGN -- Parents are shocked to learn where teens are getting their drugs. Not on the streets, but at home.
A study found more than 60% of teens admit to taking old prescription drugs from the cabinet. Police are asking parents to get rid of them.
It's called National Prescription Take-Back Day. It's something hundreds of people took part in right here in Central Illinois hoping to put an end to a deadly trend.
It's easy to let old drugs pile up over the years, but it might be time to clean out the medicine cabinet. We asked parents if they've ever heard of a Skittle party?
"Um, no," said Scott Hilton.
Not many did and this type of party has nothing to do with candy. Teens collect old prescriptions, throw them into a bowl and eat them.
"It is a known problem unfortunately," Lorittia Lucas said.
Lucas is a substitute teacher. It's a trend that she says is very much alive here.
"It's not just the older teens. It's even starting with the younger ones... 11, 12 years old."
Peer-pressure her 14-year-old son has experienced first hand.
"They'll say, 'ay man I got these drugs, do you want to get some?'" Devryck Newell said.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America says 4.5 million kids take prescription drugs like Vicodin and Oxycontin to get high. One in five high-schoolers say they've abused prescription drugs before and doctors say teens are using it as a gateway to heroin and cocaine.
More than 200 pounds of drugs were dropped off were dropped off Saturday in an effort to change those statistics.
A study found more than 60% of teens admit to taking old prescription drugs from the cabinet. Police are asking parents to get rid of them.
It's called National Prescription Take-Back Day. It's something hundreds of people took part in right here in Central Illinois hoping to put an end to a deadly trend.
It's easy to let old drugs pile up over the years, but it might be time to clean out the medicine cabinet. We asked parents if they've ever heard of a Skittle party?
"Um, no," said Scott Hilton.
Not many did and this type of party has nothing to do with candy. Teens collect old prescriptions, throw them into a bowl and eat them.
"It is a known problem unfortunately," Lorittia Lucas said.
Lucas is a substitute teacher. It's a trend that she says is very much alive here.
"It's not just the older teens. It's even starting with the younger ones... 11, 12 years old."
Peer-pressure her 14-year-old son has experienced first hand.
"They'll say, 'ay man I got these drugs, do you want to get some?'" Devryck Newell said.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America says 4.5 million kids take prescription drugs like Vicodin and Oxycontin to get high. One in five high-schoolers say they've abused prescription drugs before and doctors say teens are using it as a gateway to heroin and cocaine.
More than 200 pounds of drugs were dropped off were dropped off Saturday in an effort to change those statistics.
