Statesville High School officials want students to be aware of the dangers of abusing prescription drugs.
They believe the best way to get the students to understand the risks is to reach out to parents.
The school will host an informational program on prescription drug use among teenagers next week.
"We want to make parents aware of what they can do in the household," said School Resource Officer David "O.J." Johnson.
The program will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in Mac Gray Auditorium. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and light refreshments will be served.
Students from the high school's feeder schools — East Middle and Statesville Middle — are also invited to attend, along with parents and students in the community who are interested.
Those who attend will learn about the "Not In My House" campaign, which teaches parents how to talk to teens, why teens use drugs, the dangers of abusing drugs and more.
A student overdosed on prescription drugs this school year.
During the program, guest speakers will talk about the various aspects of drug use, ranging from pain management to the legal issues involved.
"There's a lot of pressure on kids in high school with peer pressure," Johnson said. "They think prescription drugs will help."
Beth Quinn, of Abbott Drug Company, said students take prescription drugs for any number of reasons. They may take them to stay up late to study for exams or for athletic purposes.
Parents are encouraged to count their pills in each prescription bottle, keep tabs on refills, and monitor dosage if their child takes medication for any reason.
According to Quinn, one in five teens try prescription drugs to get high.
"Kids are taking them a lot of times to cope better," Quinn said.
The program is being sponsored by Abbott and SHS Students Against Destructive Decisions.
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