Medicine Abuse
Overview
Prescription drug abuse is the nation's fastest-growing drug problem, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic.
Did you know that more than 6 million people ages 12 or older have abused a prescription drug and one in 10 youth ages 12 through 17, or 2,400,000 children, reports having intentionally abused cough medicine to get high?
Drop-Off Sites
- Franconia District Station
6121 Franconia Road Alexandria, VA 22310 - Mason District Station
6507 Columbia Pike Annandale, VA 22003 - Sully District Station
4900 Stonecroft Boulevard Chantilly, VA 20151 - West Springfield District Station
6140 Rolling Road Springfield, VA 22152 - Mount Vernon District Station
2511 Parkers Lane Alexandria, VA 22306 - Reston District Station
12000 Bowman Towne Drive Reston, VA 20190
Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout
Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem throughout the nation. And more often than not, the problem starts right in our own homes. Over 70% of those who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from a friend or relative, typically without their knowledge.
In the 2012 Fairfax County Youth Survey, more than one in 10 Fairfax County students reported using a painkiller (ex. vicodin, oxycontin) without a prescription. You can help to prevent this problem by participating in the 2013 Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout. View April 15 Press Release.
Most Commonly Abused Medicine
Teen's Rx Drugs of Choice For Abuse
Amped, New Synthetic Drug Used to Get High
by By Mikaela Conley, ABC News,May 8, 2012 6:30am | View Article
Amped, a new type of synthetic drug that falls into the street category of bath salts, is being used by people in Virginia to get high, and likely in other parts of the country as well.
The drug is touted as a ladybug attractant, but at least six cases of people ingesting the chemical compound have been reported in Eastern and Central Virginia, according to Dr. Rutherfoord Rose, director of the Virginia Poison Center.
Prescription Drug Abuse in Fairfax County
Take Part in Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout
Caitlin Acosta, 24, in recovery for drug addiction, joined the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County (UPC) today in urging county residents to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications at the upcoming Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout May 27-June 1.
Acosta of Falls Church said her own problems began at age 12 when she took a bottle of pills from her
family medicine cabinet to middle school. Read full press release.