HPD Hosts Prescription Drug Abuse Session

The Herndon Police Department held an informational session on prescription drug abuse last week. Guest speakers included a pharmacist and a special agent from the Drug Enforcement Administration among others.

Speakers talked about the types of drugs that can cause addiction and how they become dangerous. Pharmacist Robert Cade said many people don't know that some prescription pain killers have acetaminophen in them and when they take another pain killer that includes the same pain reliever, such as Tylenol, it can casuse serious liver damage or death.

DEA agent Ava Cooper-Davis talked about ways for people to dispose of prescription drugs and the impact they are having on people who become addicted to them, and how teens are abusing them. She said many times teens think it's safe to take a prescription drug, even if it isn't for them, because it came from a doctor.