Maine-based hospital receives grant to fight prescription drug misuse

Prescription drug use among teens continues to grow throughout many U.S. states. Forcing governmental agencies to award grants to drug prevention programs and law enforcement to help combat substance abuse, specifically regarding prescription medication.

For instance, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency recently announced that they have awarded York Hospital $25,000 to fight prescription drug misuse, SeaCoast.com reports. Furthermore, officials from the agency told the news source that a portion of $1.1 million in funds seized from a breakup of an international marijuana smuggling ring is being used toward drug prevention programs throughout the state.

Officials from York Hospital said that they will use the monies to fund three coalitions within the Healthy Maine Partnership in York County. These campaigns include Choose To Be Healthy, Partners for Healthier Communities at Goodell Hospital and the Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition.

Programs for teens can help children who suffer from opiate addiction after abusing prescription medication such as Oxycontin and Vicodin by providing drug prevention education.

According to the the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 10 percent of students in grade 12 have abused Vicodin at least once in the 12 months prior to the study.