KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com | Students may be turning more to prescription drugs

Students may be turning more to prescription drugs

By: Michelle Langowski
NewsChannel 10

Amarillo, TX - Prescription drug abuse has made its way into our classrooms.

As we told you yesterday here on NewsChannel Ten, this has become a problem seen in our clinics, and now we are seeing those trends in our schools.

After seeing a decrease in drug use last year, Amarillo ISD is now seeing a spike in hydrocodone use and abuse.

Safe schools, healthy students Director Melynn Huntley says they are hearing talk around Amarillo that prescription drug use is gaining popularity among our kids, and they are concerned.

"It is prescribed so freely by doctors and dentists, it's just available. Have a minor incident and get a prescription from doctors and leave it in their medicine cabinet. Well it's there for kids to grab."

Huntley says the big concern with hydrocodone and prescription drugs is the addiction factor, and she says among kids it is even easier for them to get hooked.

The Amarillo school district will receive results from their recent drug trend survey next month.