A coalition of agencies trying to curb drug abuse focuses tonight on prescription drugs…and the connection they can have to heroin use. The Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition screens the documentary The Hungry Heart about a rural Vermont doctor treating a number of people addicted to prescription pain and other medications.
...they might keep taking it not aware that people who get addicted to prescription drugs sometimes turn to heroin.
Rachel Tarr runs prevention programs at Contact Community Services. She hopes the story can lead to some action locally.
“That’s something emphasized in the film, is that we have to have a conversation, but a conversation with young people and also speak to the people who are addicted as people. Address these things in an issue that they can hear and they can talk about. Another thing is I thought there would be a variety of ages of the stories in the film and they’re all really young.”
Tarr has found the onset of prescription drug use can be as young as 12 or 13. And it’s not always started by old drugs parents or grandparents have around the house.
“This age is where a lot of young people get their wisdom teeth pulled. They’re getting prescriptions pain killers, a 30-day supply or something, when 2 days would probably be plenty. So they might keep taking it not aware that people who do get addicted to prescription drugs sometimes eventually turn to heroin.”
The Youth Prevention Coalition is working in Syracuse City Schools as well as North Syracuse High School. The documentary The Hungry Heart shows tonight at the Palace Theater in Eastwood starting at 6:30. Director Bess O’Brien will be there afterward for a discussion on prescription drug abuse.
