$7M Grant Targets Kids on Prescription Drugs

November 20, 2014

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – A new 7-million-dollar federal grant aims to discourage young people in East Tennessee from abusing prescription drugs.
And local agencies are anxious to get started with the new program.

Teen and pre-teen kids are under a lot of pressure these days to experiment with alcohol and drugs. And chances are you don’t even know about it. That’s what the experts are saying—and they add that prescription drugs are now at the top of the list.

CAMILLA BIBBS-LEE, DIR., HAMILTON COUNTY COALITION "Its been…percentage and range probably up to 70-80 percent of kids coming in have some type of prescription drug abuse problem."

Surveys show that using drugs before age 13 triples a kid’s chances of becoming an addict. The grant targets 12 to 25 year olds.
To reach them where they are means using social media.

PAUL FUCHCAR, EXEC. DIR. CADAS "The idea that 12 to 25 year olds have a high use of social media ..and the idea of using that social media to try and reach these people in significant and impactful ways..is a brand new idea."

The Hamilton county coalition wants to increase the number of prescription drug take back boxes..to halt the trend.

CAMILLA BIBBS-LEE "I believe its going up because we have a lot more prescription meds just laying around the house…there are people who are not …they’re not locking them up, counting them ..Doing anything with them..they are just sitting there..they are unused."

PAUL FUCHCAR "Adolescents ..the prime way they are getting prescription drugs is from family members that are unaware of it."

And for young people who are already hooked?

PAUL FUCHCAR "We have in patient facilities for adolescents age 13 to 17 ….And we also have a separate facility for adults 18 and above. We have in patient programs..we have outpatient programs."

That grant money will be spread over a 5 year period.
Part of that grant money will be used to provide home lock boxes…especially for patients with serious illnesses who may need strong prescription medications.