One California county hosts forum to teach parents and children about dangers of opiate use

By Staff Writer

The use of opiate-based drugs, such as prescription painkillers and heroin has increased in recent years. Heroin was used heavily throughout the 1970s and the 1990s, but fell off after the end of the century. Prescription drugs then took its place and quickly become one of the most commonly used drugs in America because it is easier to obtain and hide for troubled teens.

Local authorities in Conejo Valley recently formed a coalition that will host a forum to help educate local residents about the behavior changes and other signs of opiate abuse, The Acorn reports.

The panel includes psychologists, law enforcement representatives, drug education professionals and parents whose children struggled with addiction.

“My son was addicted to meth. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody," Brent Kerr, a captain with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. "Some people deny it because of the social stigma. But it is more important for our children to be alive than to worry about our reputation."

According to a 2009 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1.2 percent of high school seniors used heroin at least once in their lifetime.