MONROE, La, (KNOE) - Saturday was National Drug Take Back Day and some folks right here in Monroe are supporting the cause.
The Children's Coalition teamed up with ULM School of Pharmacy at nine different locations to take back any unused or expired medicine.
They say the purpose of the event is to reduce the non-medical use of prescription drugs. They say this is a safer way for people to dispose of them without throwing them away or flushing them down the toilet.
"Chemicals in the medications can contaminate the water supply as with the landfills it can get into the soil so it won't be good for animals or people," said pharmacy student Kassidy Voinche.
"I do have a lot of people in and out of my house I worry about whether or not kids or even just people that I'm not as familiar with may get into my drugs and with the opioid crisis that scares me so," said Denise Breard on why she dropped off her medications.
The national event happens twice a year, but you can drop off your prescriptions any time at any of the following locations:
1 - Louisiana State Police Troop F Headquarters
2 - West Monroe Police Department
3 - Union Parish Sheriff's Office
4 - Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office
5 - Monroe Police Department
6 - Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office
7 - Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office
8 - West Carroll Sheriff's Office

About 60-70% of teens say medicine cabinets at home are their source for drugs. Mary Barrios, healthy living coordinator at the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, encourages parents to be more responsible with prescription medications in the home. 

Barrios says the best way to combat prescription drug abuse is to dispose expired or unused medications. With National Prescription Take-Back Day around the corner, parents and professionals will be able to push-back against the opioid epidemic by leading by example. 

On how prescription drug abuse is different than other drug abuse
Access. It’s in our medicine cabinet at home. About 60-70% of teens say that that is their source of drugs. It’s readily accessible to them, and we know that in the past pills have been over-prescribed. At one point, I heard that there were enough [over prescribed] pills for every American to have one bottle of pills – it’s just that much available. We know with opioids, they hit the same centers of your brain as heroin. For a lot of them – somebody who misuses or abuses – this medicine can lead to the potential of using heroin.     

On how communities can combat prescription drug abuse
Most importantly, we have something called Prescription Take-Back Day on April 28th. What does that mean? Eliminate access. Get rid of the extra, expired, and unused medications that are in your home. If you do have some that you are using, make sure that they are put up in a safe place – not laying around where somebody can come around and take them. There are also some permanent drop-boxes in our community. You can go to the Children’s Coalition website and get a list if you’re not able to make it for that particular day.  

On talking to adolescents and teens about prescription drugs
First, it’s understanding how important it is. Statistics say that children and teens who learn about the risks of drug abuse from their parents are up to 50% less likely to try drugs – parents are a vital part of deterring that behavior. Parents should also model the behavior they want to see in their kids. 
​
On modelling healthy behavior towards prescription medications
Giving away prescriptions that you don't use anymore is what we call misuse. Taking prescriptions after a prescribed period is also a misuse. It’s not that you plan on abusing the drugs, but it is a misuse of the drug. Those are prescribed to you for a specific situation. Make sure that you’re only using drugs or medication that is prescribed to you in the way that it was prescribed to you. Teach your children to respect drugs and understand that they come with risks. Just because they’re in your medicine cabinet doesn’t mean they’re any safer than rugs that are on the street. If parents are looking for resources, generationRX.org is a great resource. They have everything from how to talk to your children about prescription medications all the way up to senior citizens.

Within the past year, up to 80% of high school seniors have admitted to using cannabis. Dr. Jay Piland, addictionologist at Pecan Haven Adolescent Addiction and Treatment Center, discusses how parents can begin talking about substance use with their children. 

Piland says substance use can be a progressive disorder; therefore, parents should take an active approach and intervene as early as possible throughout their child's development process. 

On substances commonly used by adolescents
Currently, the most commonly abused substances are prescription pain medications and opioids.  Some of the newer substances are: mojo, synthetic cannabis, and cradum. These drugs are technically not illegal in the United States, but certainly impactful on the adolescent population.

On the difference between substance use and its progression in adolescents and adults
For instance, within the past year 75-80% of high school seniors have used cannabis. It doesn’t indicate that they have an actual abuse disorder, but casual use is where it starts. Many epidemiologic studies – which are done to study the distribution of diseases – make modifications in addiction medicine with regards to the adolescent population.

​Addiction is more of a developmental disorder and it starts at the use level, becomes misuse, and then progresses to an actual substance use disorder. For those that are genetically prone, there’s an interaction with earlier factors such as: Adverse Childhood Experiences, genetic variables, and the process of genetic changes that occur within the expression of a person’s genetic code. The genetic code doesn’t change, but the expression of the genetic code can change depending on the use of substances.

On warning signs and resources to combat adolescent substance use
The early warning signs can be changes in behavior, changes in friends, changes in academic performance, changes in interests and extracurricular activities. Also, adolescents which are experimenting or have a substance use disorder tend to socially identify with other individuals of like minds.

Parents can gain information from certain websites such as: the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) at drugabuse.gov and Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at samhsa.gov. 

On how parents and professionals can begin discussing substance use with adolescents
There is a higher probability for adolescents to develop a substance use disorder the earlier adolescents start using substances. In the past, we’ve attempted to educate the adolescent population with regard to the risk involved with regard to substance use. Usually, intervention comes after finding out about substance use. Parents should attempt to intervene as early as possible throughout the spectrum of development. 
​
Time to Talk is produced with the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana and BayouLife Magazine.

Nearly all research agrees: peer support plays a huge role in suicide prevention. Jan Daniels, suicide prevention and youth development coordinator at the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, informs parents and professionals about a school-based suicide prevention program. 

Daniels says that it is important for children to talk to trusted adults in school and at home; however, parents and professionals must be proactive to catch the warning signs and help adolescents navigate this phase of life.

On how the SOS Signs of Suicide program trains students
SOS Signs of Suicide goes to area middle schools and facilitates the prevention program. Facilitators teach students what to listen for and what to look for in their peers and in their family. They also teach students are how to react and what to do if they know someone who's fighting depression or thinking of suicide.
Trainings are usually held during P.E. time in a classroom setting. The trainings consist of questioning, answering, and talking accompanied by a great training video.

On how adolescents respond to suicide awareness
A lot of students ask what to say to someone who’s needing help, or what to do if an adult doesn’t listen the first time they tell them they know someone who’s feeling depressed. The most important thing you can tell them is to go to a trusted adult. If you don’t get what you want from the first person, go to the second person.

On how adolescents can recognize behavior and mood changes
The video used to guide the screening is age based. It talks about being dramatic, having trouble with parents, failing grades, and how things can explode if you don’t take care of them. It instructs children on what to do if they see someone that’s reacting on social media or in regular communication.

During the screening, there’s a section that allows children to reflect on the changes they’ve gone through in the past year. It’s amazing how many hands go up with simple changes such as moving to a new neighborhood or having trouble at home. We want them to be equipped with the skills of how to handle certain situations and feeling that they’re going through.
​
If, for any reason, children or parents don't have access to suicide prevention programs, we always refer them to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. That number is 1-800-273-TALK.