If almost 20 percent of Maine youths in grades six through 12 are potentially risking their lives by using prescription drugs improperly, is it time to do something about it?

It was recently reported that three Rangeley teenagers have been accused of stealing prescription drugs from a pharmacy; 1,300 prescription drugs were unaccounted for over a 16-day period to be used, given away or sold. This is a frightening story and, unfortunately, not uncommon.

The rate of prescription drug abuse among Maine youth is alarming.

According to the results of the 2004 Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey, almost one in every five Maine youths reports having used a prescription drug not prescribed to him or her. Yet, awareness among youths, adults and the health care community of the dangers related to youth prescription drug abuse is limited.

Prescription drugs are powerful, highly addictive, expensive and increasingly available legal drugs. They can have severe physical side effects, and can lead to addiction and even death if abused. If used improperly, just one pill can kill a person.

Young people from across the state report their peers are using and dealing prescription drugs with increasing frequency. Very scary anecdotal stories such as kids “pharming” at parties – bringing prescription drugs from home and tossing them in a bowl which serves as a grim grab bag of perceived “treats.” Or, teachers in a large public school asking their students to stop dealing or trading prescription drugs in their classroom, or young people stealing drugs from the homes of elderly residents.

These stories are a clear message to parents, teachers and other adults in the community that the problem of prescription drug abuse has become, as what one southern Maine hospital has termed it, an epidemic.

Something has to be done and it starts with increasing awareness.

Project AWARE, an initiative of the Maine Association of Prevention Programs, is the only statewide awareness-raising initiative focused solely on the dangers of prescription drug abuse. The project raises awareness among Maine’s youths, their educators, parents and other adults, and the health care community.

Over the last two years, Project AWARE has provided more than 60 workshops and presentations to Maine youths and adults, and reached approximately 3,500 individuals. This includes 3,000 young people in grades six through 12.

In our workshops and presentations with young people, our intention is to stimulate creative thinking and feeling about substance abuse and its origins; we engage them in creative expression, discussion of natural highs, and brainstorming about how to get the message about prescription drug abuse out into the broader communities of young people, parents and health care professionals.

Sometimes youth express hopelessness. Sometimes I am hopeless. But when a young person says to me or writes in our evaluation – as many have – that someone has stopped using as a result of our work, or that they have a story just like mine, I remember that a life or lives may have been saved.

As a person in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse for over 13 years, I speak from the heart to young people – and now to you.

Teens are tired of the “Just say no” message. They cannot do that alone.

We, as a community, have to engage and participate with them in very creative ways to address the root issues of substance abuse which can include fear, insecurity, shame and self-loathing. With peer pressure being identified in our workshops as the No. 1 reason that kids choose to use, we must address these underlying issues.

There are practical and simple things that you can do to address the issue of youth prescription drug abuse.

For example, lock your medicine cabinet, pass out information sheets to teachers and parents, and/or find out what is happening in your schools.

There are equally important steps you can take which might involve some risk or going to a place that does not feel as comfortable. Talk to young people about their lives, what they are passionate about and what they have fun doing.

Join them, encourage them, and strive to build a relationship of trust – these may be your sons or daughters, and/or someone you know, or don’t know, who is in danger of making the choice to use.

Take that risk.

As one teen in Calais told us: “Taking risks is a natural high.”

And, as another teen in Brewer said: “You don’t know what the effect will be. You might be saving lives.”

Young people are our teachers if we open up to learn from them.

Carl Lakari is project coordinator of Project AWARE in Saco. He can be reached at [email protected]