Scranton officials praised for their drug abuse prevention programs, but outline what they could improve on

Officials from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (NDCP) recently congratulated the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania for their efforts to prevent drug abuse and alcohol use among teens, reports The Times-Tribune.

In a roundtable discussion with local leaders, NDCP officials said that helping individuals with addictions will be a focus of national policy in the coming years. Furthermore, students, school officials, county commissioners also took part in the conversation about drug policy and challenges the region is currently facing.

Local officials told the news source that bureaucratic roadblocks present challenges in helping recovering addicts get treatment and fighting overall drug abuse within the city. However, NDCP officials added that they plan to help sustain the current infrastructure and emphasize the importance of decreasing the demand for drugs.

Troubled teen programs can provide drug rehab for individuals who suffer from chemical dependency issues, such as opiate addiction.

According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future survey, nearly 7 percent of children in grade 8 reported abusing the opiate painkiller Vicodin.