State - What's in your medicine cabinet? Ingham judge speaks on teen drug abuse

By Roberta M. Gubbins Legal News Hon. Donald Allen, Jr., speaking to a group of mental health professionals, family court workers and the public at a breakfast hosted by Highfields, an agency that works with troubled children and their families, spoke on the abuse of prescriptive drugs by young people. The event was held at Bestsellers bookstore in Mason in May. "There are dangers in your medicine cabinet," he said. "You may not know what is there, but your children do and their friends do. When you don't pay attention to the drugs located there, you do so at your peril." Judge Allen told the group that he had Vicodin in his bathroom, which he didn't find effective for pain; however, it is "the drug of choice for a lot of teenagers. They take it combined with other things. Your bathroom is the most private place in your house, however, others can take full advantage of what is there without you being aware of it." "A baby-sitter, a stranger who uses your bathroom, your children or their friends can take the drugs that are there," he said. "Kids are at risk--they don't know the dangers of prescriptive drugs--they think if the pills are prescribed by a doctor they must be safe. Never-mind that they are not taking them as directed." Middle and high school students have pharming parties where they throw the drugs from their parents' medicine cabinet into a bowl, take them at random washed down with alcohol. Such a practice can lead to death. "Parents don't always know how many pills they have so they are not aware of how many are missing. We must be vigilante and understand the issues that surround prescription drugs." Judge Allen recommended keeping drugs under lock and key. Judge Allen is 55th District Court Judge, appointed by Governor Granholm in December 2008. He is up for re-election this fall as his term expires January 1, 2011. He began his career in the Attorney General's office and served as director of the Office of Drug Control Policy prior to being appointed to the court. He is a 1983 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. Highfields, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization that provides behavioral health services throughout central, lower Michigan. Services are nationally accredited and include, residential treatment, intensive home-based counseling, outpatient mental health services, foster care, domestic violence intervention, experiential education, and wraparound services. Services are funded through various governmental contracts, client's insurances, or on a fee basis. For more information call (517) 887-2762 or toll free at 1-877-443-4353. Published: Thu, Jul 1, 2010

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