Health News
A University of Kentucky study has shown rural teenagers in Kentucky are 26 percent more likely to abuse prescription drugs than those living in urban areas, the Lexington Herald-Leader's Mary Meehan reports. The study concludes 13 percent of teenagers living in rural areas have said they used prescription drugs recreationally. Only 10 percent of urban youths have tried them.
Dr. Jennifer Havens, right, spearheaded the study. She is a professor of epidemiology at UK's Department of Behavioral Science in the College of Medicine. "This is one of the first studies to show that hard data," she said.
The program has also started in Breathitt County, with a training meeting last Thursday to make volunteers and key personnel "aware about keeping the lid locked on prescription and over-the-counter medications," Jeff Noble reports for the Jackson Times-Voice. "For some that attended, the session was more than just basic information ? it was an eye-opener that mirrored their concerns," Noble writes, citing a statement from Kelly: ?In Eastern Kentucky, the average age of first-time drug abuse is 11 years old, so this is a particularly critical issue.? Karen Bunn, chair of the Breathitt UNITE Coalition, told Noble that the program needs volunteers to work. (Read more)
- Middle- And High-school Students Invited To Create 30-second Videos Discouraging Prescription Drug Abuse, Win Prizes In Contest
Attorney General Jack Conway and his Keep Kentucky Safe partners invite Kentucky middle- and high-school students to compete in the annual Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Public Service Announcement contest. Contestants create a PSA to warn Kentucky...
- Kentucky Expands List Of Permanent Locations For Safe Disposal Of Unneeded Or Expired Prescription Medications
Gov. Steve Beshear announced today that Kentucky now has 149 permanent prescription drug disposal locations in 97 counties where Kentuckians can safely dispose of unused or expired medications in order to help curb the state's prescription drug abuse...
- National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, A Kentucky Product, Seeks To Make The Nation Face Up To Its Problem
The second annual National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, organized by Eastern Kentucky's Operation UNITE, called for a national commitment to combating the country's drug-abuse problem U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-5th District"People of great passion and perspective...
- 1 In 4 Grandparents Keep Meds Where Kids Can Reach Them
A new poll shows nearly one in four grandparents say they store prescription medicines in places that can be accessed by children. Unintentional poisonings cause more visits to the emergency room for young children ? one every 10 minutes ? than car accidents,...
- Rx Drug Abuse Summit In Florida, Organized By Ky. Group, Set To Start As Lobbying On 'pill-mill Bill' Continues To Ramp Up
By Tara Kaprowy Kentucky Health News As a bipartisan group of political leaders pushes the General Assembly to pass a bill Thursday that would crack down on "pill mills" that contribute to prescription drug abuse, Eastern Kentucky's Operation UNITE...
Health News
Rural teens more likely to abuse prescription meds; Operation UNITE launches 'Accidental Dealer' to guard medicine cabinets
A University of Kentucky study has shown rural teenagers in Kentucky are 26 percent more likely to abuse prescription drugs than those living in urban areas, the Lexington Herald-Leader's Mary Meehan reports. The study concludes 13 percent of teenagers living in rural areas have said they used prescription drugs recreationally. Only 10 percent of urban youths have tried them.
Dr. Jennifer Havens, right, spearheaded the study. She is a professor of epidemiology at UK's Department of Behavioral Science in the College of Medicine. "This is one of the first studies to show that hard data," she said.Karen Kelly, director of Operation UNITE, a federally funded anti-drug program for Eastern Kentucky, said she was pleased to have the data. "We were excited when we heard about those numbers," she said. "A lot of times in small communities, people don't think there is anything to be concerned about."
The study looked at data from 17,872 participants ages 12 to 17 in the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. It showed teens are getting pills from medicine cabinets in their home, which has prompted UNITE to launch "Don't Be an Accidental Drug Dealer. The program, which Meehan reports started in Knox, Clay and Wolfe counties last week, will inform communities about prescription drug abuse through town hall-style meetings and public service announcements. (Read more)
The program has also started in Breathitt County, with a training meeting last Thursday to make volunteers and key personnel "aware about keeping the lid locked on prescription and over-the-counter medications," Jeff Noble reports for the Jackson Times-Voice. "For some that attended, the session was more than just basic information ? it was an eye-opener that mirrored their concerns," Noble writes, citing a statement from Kelly: ?In Eastern Kentucky, the average age of first-time drug abuse is 11 years old, so this is a particularly critical issue.? Karen Bunn, chair of the Breathitt UNITE Coalition, told Noble that the program needs volunteers to work. (Read more)
- Middle- And High-school Students Invited To Create 30-second Videos Discouraging Prescription Drug Abuse, Win Prizes In Contest
Attorney General Jack Conway and his Keep Kentucky Safe partners invite Kentucky middle- and high-school students to compete in the annual Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Public Service Announcement contest. Contestants create a PSA to warn Kentucky...
- Kentucky Expands List Of Permanent Locations For Safe Disposal Of Unneeded Or Expired Prescription Medications
Gov. Steve Beshear announced today that Kentucky now has 149 permanent prescription drug disposal locations in 97 counties where Kentuckians can safely dispose of unused or expired medications in order to help curb the state's prescription drug abuse...
- National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, A Kentucky Product, Seeks To Make The Nation Face Up To Its Problem
The second annual National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, organized by Eastern Kentucky's Operation UNITE, called for a national commitment to combating the country's drug-abuse problem U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-5th District"People of great passion and perspective...
- 1 In 4 Grandparents Keep Meds Where Kids Can Reach Them
A new poll shows nearly one in four grandparents say they store prescription medicines in places that can be accessed by children. Unintentional poisonings cause more visits to the emergency room for young children ? one every 10 minutes ? than car accidents,...
- Rx Drug Abuse Summit In Florida, Organized By Ky. Group, Set To Start As Lobbying On 'pill-mill Bill' Continues To Ramp Up
By Tara Kaprowy Kentucky Health News As a bipartisan group of political leaders pushes the General Assembly to pass a bill Thursday that would crack down on "pill mills" that contribute to prescription drug abuse, Eastern Kentucky's Operation UNITE...