Nassau Conference Focuses On Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
BETHPAGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A conference held in Nassau County on Friday focused on the problem of young people abusing prescription drugs.
WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs On The Story
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Studies show that 4.5 million American children above the age of 12 have abused prescription drugs, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.
That's why Nassau County held the conference with parents and educators - to try and prevent it.
"It starts with educating parents, giving parents the tools, and the best way that we know to get the parents the tools is by getting parents involved and engaged with the school community," conference organizer and licensed social worker Jamie Bogenshutz told Xirinachs.
Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Rene Fiechter also helped launch the conference and said education is the key to solving this problem.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and we know that we cannot arrest our way out of this problem," he told Xirinachs.
Officials said that three people die each week in Nassau County as a result of drug abuse.
What do you think should be done to deal with the problem of prescription drug abuse? Sound off in the comments section below.
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