Eau Claire (WQOW) - October is National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month and Substance Abuse Prevention Month.
The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention is kicking off its #MoreKidsDrugFree campaign to raise awareness about the issue of prescription drug abuse and prevention.
The alliance said more than 200 high school youth in Eau Claire County reported misusing prescription drugs in the past month. Officials said prescription drug misuse or abuse means taking medications in greater amounts or more frequently than prescribed, or taking medications that were not prescribed to you.
Officials said many teens and young adults believe that prescription drugs are safer to use than illegal drugs, but they said prescription drug misuse can have serious adverse health effects, especially if taken with alcohol or other drugs. It can also be as addictive and dangerous as illegal drugs.
The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention reports that in Eau Claire County, one in four high school students said it's easy to get prescription drugs.
Alliance staff said every person in the community has a role in preventing youth prescription drug misuse. They encourage you to:
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