The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
333376
Do Your Part to stop prescription drug abuse.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in 2010, 2.4 million Americans aged 12 and older illicitly used prescription drugs for the first time, and most of those users started with opioid pain relievers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Every day, an average of 2,000 teenagers nationwide use a prescription drug for the first time without a doctor's guidance. They are accessing these drugs in their own homes; it can be as easy as opening a cupboard, drawer or medicine cabinet. In Michigan, this problem is real. It's growing and it's dangerous. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), prescription opioid abuse may be "the first step" to heroin use. Recent research cited by NIDA indicated that almost half of the young heroin users who injected heroin reported that they used opioid pain relievers before they started using heroin. They stated that they found heroin cheaper to purchase.
Do Your Part to increase public awareness of the risks and potential harm of prescription drug misuse, as well as the extent of the prescription drug abuse problem in Michigan. You can Do Your Part by:
- Dispelling the myth that prescription drugs are safer than illicit drugs
- Dispelling the perception that this is "not a problem in my community"
- Creating a sense among parents that they can have an impact on reducing prescription drug abuse
- Reducing the unnecessary availability of prescription drugs
- Educating audiences about the environmentally safe disposal of prescription drugs
Funding
Federal and state funds have been used to support this project.
Many communities have volunteer professionals and coalitions who can provide education and other resources to support community awareness initiatives—including online resources, videos, printed materials, presentations and speakers. Click on the Resource tab to find your county contact through your regional Pre-Paid Inpatient Health Plan under the (PIHP).