Madison Speakers Say Prescription Drug Abuse Becoming Epidemic

By Liz Nace, MADE coalition

An alarming rise in prescription drug abuse, along with an increasingly available selection of synthetic drugs, are just a few of the trends parents should be aware of as they talk with their children about drug and alcohol abuse, experts said Thursday night at a workshop sponsored by the Madison Alcohol and Drug Education (MADE) coalition.

The MADE coalition presentation, “Current Youth Drug and Alcohol Trends” Thursday night at Memorial Town Hall, featured Catherine LeVasseur, formerly of The Governor’s Prevention Partnership and now the new Coordinator for M.A.D.E. and Charles Grady, Senior Investigator at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Haven. They presented startling information on the latest alcohol and drug products, marketing strategies and drugs of choice our youth are confronting.

M.A.D.E. and the Madison Police Department also will be holding a “Prescription Drug Take Back Day” on Saturday, Nov. 12th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  There will be two sites—Madison Youth and Family Services at 8 Meeting House Land next to the town green, and Robert’s Supermarket in the North Madison shopping center.  The public can drop off any prescription drugs, no questions asked, at either site.   

Flavored alcohol, vodka snorting, drinking glamorized

LeVasseur spoke of the shift in America as a “drinking culture” that glamorizes alcohol in movies, television and music.  Youth are rapidly consuming alcoholic energy drinks (a single 23.5 oz. energy drink has 12% alcohol and is the equivalent of 6.6 standard drinks plus caffeine), being enticed by flavored alcohol, and hopping on trends such as vodka snorting (celebrities are doing it!)

It may have been new information to the adults in the room, but our teens have probably seen or heard about “Lazy Cakes”-melatonin filled brownies readily sold at convenience stores with no age restrictions.

Ironically, Lazy Cakes and other products like them were created to help people come down from the effects of energy drinks.

Bath Salts, Ivory Snow, Plant Food also can be purchased

LeVasseur also spoke about other drugs our teens may be encountering such as Salvia, Synthetic Cannabis, Synthetic Cocaine (“Bath Salts”,“Pure Ivory” and “Plant Food” just to name a few) and another new trend called “i-dosing”.

“I-doses” can be purchased on the Internet and are beats that someone can listen to with headphones.

The beats or frequencies created can change brain waves and mimic the effects of alcohol, marijuana and ecstasy for the listener. 

Alarming rise in pharmaceutical drug abuse

Grady’s presentation highlighted the alarming rise in pharmaceutical drugs abuse that is becoming an epidemic in middle class America.

Grady pointed out the culture of prescription drug abuse that is on the rise. The Center for Disease Control stated “enough painkillers were prescribed last year to medicate every American adult around the clock for a month.”

However, he pointed out that even law enforcement officials don’t always take pills as a serious problem.  “There is a level of social acceptance…it’s just a pill."  But pills like Vicodin, Roxycotin and Percocet are creating rampant addiction in our youth, he said.

Not just national trends, also real issues in Connecticut

LeVasseur and Grady pointed out that their presentations do not just speak to national trends, but real issues in Connecticut.

The legislature in Connecticut has been taking steps to increase penalties for these alcohol and drug products, however parents and other adults must be tuned in to these dangers, from what is on the counter at our local convenience store to what may be in your medicine cabinet tempting your teen.

Thursday night’s presentation was recorded by Madison Cable Television and will be available for viewing shortly. 

This article was contributed by the MADE coalition. If you have something you'd like us to run, please send it to pem.mcnerney@patch.com.