Illicit prescription drug use exploding | Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies | hometownlife.com

Illicit prescription drug use exploding | Observer and Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies | hometownlife.com

The Drug Enforcement Agency, in conjunction with the Brighton Center for Recovery, recently gave a presentation at Hillside Middle School that highlighted the growing epidemic of illicit prescription drug use among teenagers and young adults.

Joseph Rannazzisi, deputy assistant administrator for Office of Diversion Control, U.S. DEA, said illegal use of opiates and prescriptions are killing the country's youth.

The presentation, which was also sponsored by St. John Providence Hospital and Northville Youth Assistance, was held in the evening with over 50 people attending. Read More...

He said a “perfect storm” has been created because pills like vicodin and oxycontin have been over prescribed, as well as illegally obtained, on a wider scale. He said for teenagers to get their hands on them it's sometimes as easy as opening the bathroom medicine cabinet.