The American Medicine Chest Challenge

Sylvania, Oregon urge meds drop-offs to keep kids off drugs

More than 2,500 teens abuse pain relievers everyday. Teens abuse prescription drugs more than any other illicit drug except for marijuana.

Oxycontin, Percocet and Vicodin are just some of the pain killers that teens are taking these days to put themsleves in a dream-like state. They're addictive, and abuse can be fatal.

Experts say in most cases, teens are swiping drugs from their parents and grandparents.

So the communities of Sylvania and Oregon are teaming up to help clean out your medicine cabinet. They are introducing various drug drop-off sites this weekend.

Deb Chany is with Sylvania's community action team. She says, "We thought we needed to do something proactive because our public isn't maybe aware that this is happening, especially with our kids. We're talking 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds."

You can get one of a drop off-bag at several local businesses or you can just bring the drugs in in a Ziploc bag. The Sylvania community action team wants you to put your unused, unwanted medication in the bags and bring them to one of three drop-off sites.

Sylvania township patrolman Shawn Bouyer says, the kids "feel it's okay because they see prescription and over-the-counter drugs as legal. It doesn't have the stigma attached with illegal street drugs so they think it's okay and we have to educate them to say 'No, it isn't okay'."

Bill Geha is a drug abuse counselor. He says teens are swiping prescription drugs from various places, including grandmas and grandpas. He urges parents to wake up. "They need to look for the signs, the changes in behavior and sometimes it's not just kids going through a phase. Some kids self-medicate you know they're dealing with some issues at school...the drama if high school or mental health issues and drugs work and it gets out of control."

The community drop drug drop-off will take place Saturday, March 13. You can drop off your prescription drugs at the Sylvania city police department, Sylvania Township police department from 9 a.m. -7 p.m. and the city of Oregon complex from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you miss this opportunity, there will be another chance to drop off your unused medication November 13 during the American Medicine Chest Challenge.