Schools in Oakland County, Michigan have seen a decrease in many types of drugs. But they’re seeing an increase in the use of prescription drugs among teenagers. To try and combat the problem, the county uses K-9 police units to conduct drug sweeps in the schools.

According to Sgt. Joseph Lambourn, acting coordinator of the K-9 units, all school requests for drug sweeps go through him. ‘I’ll bring in all the dogs for a full-scale search,’ he said. ‘Depending on the school’s request, we search cars, lockers, and/or backpacks. -- Source: The Spinal Column (Walled Lake, Mich.)

Though the county relies on drug sweeps as part of its overall effort to fight drug use, recent budget cuts have reduced the frequency of the searches.

Are you worried that your teen might be abusing prescription medications? If so, education is your first step: Take a few moments to learn about the signs, symptoms, and dangers of teen prescription drug abuse, as well as the intervention and treatment options that are available to help your family.

Labels: prescription drugs, prevention, schools, teen_drug_use