If you thought that prescription drug abuse would just go away quietly, think again.  This time, prescription drug abuse is making its rounds by targeting students too.  According to a recent article published in the Miami Herald, four middle school students are recovering after suspected prescription drug abuse put them in the hospital.  The article goes on to state:

A Volusia County schools spokeswoman says a New Smyrna Beach Middle School teacher sent the four eighth-grade students to a clinic Monday morning. The teacher thought the students were behaving oddly.

According to the local police department, deputies discovered that one of the students was sharing prescription drug medications with a friend at school.  The friend then turned around and gave some of the drugs to two other students.  It just goes to show you how incredibly dangerous prescription medications can be.  While certain medications are intended to help people recover from various ailments and illnesses, they are not intended to be shared with other people who may have adverse reactions.

The hard lessons that these students have had to learn is a difficult one, indeed.  There are too many people who are prescribed medication and abuse it in ways that only have adverse effects on their lives as well as the lives of those around them who love and care for them.  People need to realize (parents especially), that they need to be role models to children.  Keep medications out of reach, and talk to children about the dangers of drug abuse.  Encourage them in positive ways to feel comfortable discussing any difficult issues that they may have with you so that this type of abuse may be prevented in the future.