Town Hall Meeting about Rx Drug Misuse

The Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse , Insight Counseling and the CHOICES Office at WCSU are coordinating a Town Hall Meeting about Rx Drug Misuse on Wednesday, October 27th.

 The program will include a panel comprised of Det. Lt. James Fisher of the Danbury Police Dept. Special Investigations Div.; Dr. Fred Hesse, Clinical Director, Arms Acres; Sharon Guck , Coordinator, Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, WCSU; and Dr. Marita Michelin, Danbury Hospital, Emergency Dept. The event will take place at 7pm in Warner Hall on the Main Campus  and  refreshments will be provided.

Although the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs among youth has declined from 2002 through 2008, many teens have turned to misusing prescription drugs, according to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In fact, prescription drugs are misused more by this age group than any illicit drug, except marijuana. Further, according to NSDUH estimates in 2007, the northwestern part of CT had the highest reported rates of misuse in the state.

• 1 in 5 teens (or 4.5 million) has abused prescription drugs, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America
• 1 in 3 teens report knowing someone who abuses prescription drugs, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America's 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.
• 1 in 3 teens surveyed says there is "nothing wrong" when using prescription drugs "every once in awhile," according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America's 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking  Study.
• Every day, 2,700 teens abuse a prescription drug for the first time, according to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• 8 out of 10 teens who misuse prescription drugs get the drugs from friends or relatives through a number of means including stealing, buying or simply asking for the drugs, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America's 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.

The Town Hall Meeting will be an opportunity to raise awareness, define the nature and extent of the problem and present possible next steps to address this dangerous trend in our communities.

Space is limited, so it is necessary to reserve a seat by calling 203-743-7741 or email hvcasa@snet.net with your name and the number of people in your party.

To learn more visit www.hvcasa.net