Video: Addiction Specialist Discusses the Dangers of Prescription Drugs

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — Healthcare professionals, counselors and others spent time this afternoon learning how to combat an increase in prescription drug abuse. A “lunch and learn” was held for area professionals in Tupelo. It was sponsored by the Oxford Centre, an addiction treatment center based in Lafayette County. The purpose of the seminar was to share information about a rise in prescription drug abuse. In the past decade statistics show there has been an increase in the prescribing of controlled substances and the abuse of those substances.

“Now physicians are beginning to learn some of the risks of these drugs and are starting to more wisely prescribe them, in addition to that, kids are under more pressure to perform in school, to take performance enhancing drugs, and prescription drugs are now amongst the drugs kids try at an early age by taking from their parents medicine cabinets or getting from friends.”

Next Friday, the Oxford Centre is sponsoring a Continuing Medical Education seminar on the topic of safe prescribing practices. That takes place in Oxford.