Parents try to raise awareness about the many faces of teen drug abuse

By Staff Writer

In response to a growing teen drug use problem, one parent is trying to prove that all substance abusers do not look the same. My West Texas reports that Josie Alvarez - a parent in the Midland Independent School District - is hosting a forum on teen drug use prevention.

Alvarez is trying to raise awareness about the growing issues of drugs in middle- and upper-class families. She told the news source that some substance abusers earn high grades and participate in sports, as well as other activities.

Lieutenant Seth Herman, of the Midland Police Department's Special Investigations Division, said that drug busts are a common occurrence and that students from different demographic groups have been involved, according to the media outlet.

He added that most students use prescription drugs, such as hydrocodone, Valium and OxyContin, which they can obtain by purchasing from dealers, forging prescriptions or stealing from their homes.

According to a study done by the National Center On Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, between 1993 to 2005, teen usage of prescription drugs increased by 93 percent.