A new and dangerous activity among American teen-agers today is attending gatherings called “pharm/pharming” or “bowling” parties.  Teens raid their parents’ medicine cabinets or buy prescription drugs.  They dump all of their collected meds and put them in bowls or bags.  Then they take a big handful of pills and consume them, often washing down the pills with alcohol.  The results are seizures, brain damage, and even death.

“Last year the possession and sale of prescription pills exploded.” Captain W. Jerrell Seawell, an officer of the Moore County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit, doesn’t mince words when he describes how serious the problem of prescription drug abuse is in Moore County.

In the past Moore County narcotic officers rarely encountered the sale and abuse of prescription drugs, but according to Seawell, in the last six years officers have daily investigated the sale and abuse of prescription drugs and are in pursuit of evidence to build cases.    In July 2008, one investigator from the Narcotics Unit was assigned solely to investigate doctor shopping and prescription drug abuse.   In addition to police work, the Narcotics Unit belongs to the Drug Free Moore County organization and to the Drug Free Drug Prevention task force.  Presentations are given to educate doctors, health officials, and parents about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. 

Moore County citizens are going to the emergency room for prescription drug overdose, and there have even been a few deaths according to Seawell.  He emphasizes that most people don’t understand what they are taking and what effects legal drugs can have when they are combined with other drugs and/or with alcohol.  Dr. Michael Maves, executive vice president of the American Medical Association reiterates this statement:  “When these medicines are abused –when they are used for anything other than their intended and approved purpose—they can be every bit as dangerous as illegal street drugs.”

In the July 4th Parade, it was reported:  “Of the more than 4 billion prescriptions written yearly, it is estimated that some 40% go unused. “  So far this year, in one week’s time,  Seawell reports that three elderly people, two age 70, and one age 78, were charged with selling their prescription drugs.  Some elderly people pay $5.00 for a bottle of 30 prescription drugs.  They can sell their pills for between $5.00 to $8.00 a piece for a profit margin of $150.00 to $240.00.  
Moore County law enforcements agencies participated in Operation Medicine Drop this past March.  There were seven drop off sites throughout the county, and the Narcotic Unit reported  a combined total of 80,000 prescription pills dropped off.  The Sheriff’s Department is planning another Medicine Drop Event in October.  

Parents, lock up their prescriptions and dispose of them responsibly.  If parents suspect their children are using drugs, they need to seek help immediately. 

For more information, contact Drug-Free Moore County, Inc., www.drugfreemc.com, its number is 910-947-1902.  Services and contact information will be provided for different organizations that can help your child.  Denying the possibility of your teen-ager participating in a “pharm” party or taking prescription drugs combined with alcohol may have lethal consequences.

(written by Yvonne Gale)