Community Problem:
Prescription drug abuse is the use of a medication without a prescription, in a way other than as prescribed, or for the experience or feelings elicited. According to several national surveys, prescription medications, such as those used to treat pain, attention deficit disorders, and anxiety, are being abused at a rate second only to marijuana among illicit drug users.
People often think that prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are safer than illicit drugs, but that’s only true when they are taken exactly as prescribed and for the purpose intended. When abused, prescription and OTC drugs can be addictive and put abusers at risk for other adverse health effects, including overdose—especially when taken along with other drugs or alcohol.
Testimonials
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“The progression from prescription drugs to heroin is growing every day. The more we can educate the kids of the dangers involved with Prescription Drug Abuse the better we all will be" - Officer Steve Olson, FDL Police Dept.
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“The Fond du Lac school district is pleased to work with TEAM SAP to build awareness of this concerning issue in our community!”– Marian Sheridan, FDL School District
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“The ELKS organization has helped in Fond du Lac and the surrounding communities with volunteerism and funding for many years. We are very pleased to join Team SAP as they try to stem the tide of the prescription drug abuse in our schools”– Josh Emanuel, Exalted Ruler FDL Lodge no. 57.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, prescription opioid pain medications such as Oxycontin and Vicodin can have effects similar to heroin when taken in doses or in ways other than prescribed, and research now suggests that abuse of these drugs may actually open the door to heroin abuse.
In several recent surveys many young people who inject heroin report abusing prescription opioids before starting to use heroin. Some individuals reported taking up heroin because it is cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription opioids. Many of these young people also report that crushing prescription opioid pills to snort or inject the powder provided their initiation into these methods of drug administration.
Prescription drug abuse is occurring with our Fond du Lac area youth. Students have been recently expelled and suspended for selling and/or sharing prescription and over-the-counter medications in Fond du Lac county schools.
According to the Fond du Lac Police Department, heroin use in Fond du Lac County is quickly becoming an epidemic. Many sources have identified the need to focus on prescription medication misuse and abuse to help curb progression of teens and young adults to heroin use.
Fond du Lac County teens are at risk of drug abuse behaviors and it is important that the community comes together to educate teens
and to help them make better choices.
This video competition is being offered to promote drug abuse prevention. Introducing prevention programs at an early age, before high school when an adolescent may have already had an experience with drugs, has been shown to be extremely important to the success of the prevention program.
In this drug abuse video contest, 7th graders are asked to create and submit a two minute video around the theme of: “If You Care You Will NOT Share” to help teach fellow students about the dangers of sharing and misusing prescription medications.
This contest will touch on the National Institute of Health recommendations for drug prevention programs by asking 7th graders to work in groups to research the risks of sharing and misusing prescriptions medications. The goals of the video project are to enforce student anti-drug attitudes, enhance peer relationships and strengthen student commitment to avoid illicit drug use.
The theme of the project has been chosen to align with the work that the Fond du Lac school system, Drug Free Communities, and STAAND are already working on in the Fond du Lac high school population this year.
Opiate related Prescription Drug Abuse has been increasing and is shown to be a gateway to Heroin.