U.S. attorney warns of dangers of prescription drug abuse
A growing drug problem across the cuontry has U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom asking parents and grandparents for help.
"We need to get the word out to parents that there is a drug epidemic in this country, and the fastest growing drug that is abused and misused are prescription pain killers," Grissom said.
Grissom said the death toll from prescription pain killers has tripled in the past decade.
"Just because it is made by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, just because it's prescribed by a physician, if it is abused and taken in the wrong way, taken in the wrong amounts, it will kill you," he said.
Prescription pain killers are also a gateway drug to heroin use. An addict may seek a cheaper drug such as heroin if money runs low.
Grissom is encouraging parents to clean out their medicine cabinets on National Drug Take Back Day this Saturday. Law enforcement agencies will collect and dispose unused prescription drugs at the following three locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- The Sedgwick County Zoo
- Sedgwick County's household hazardous waste collection site, 801 Stillwell in Wichita
- Oaklawn Activity Center, 4900 S. Clifton
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