District Attorney Bill Cox and his fellow Tennessee district attorneys have kicked off a statewide campaign to fight the rising rates of prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse among Tennessee’s youth. The campaign is called Deceptive Danger because Tennessee’s youth are being deceived into thinking any substance prescribed by a doctor or purchased in a convenience store is safe.
Campaign materials include a new educational DVD, two posters and a brochure. In addition, the district attorneys will be making presentations and distributing the materials to public middle and high schools across the state.
The Deceptive Danger campaign follows an increase in prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse in Tennessee. The rise in prescription drug abuse prompted law enforcement to focus its attention on fraudulent prescriptions, the operations of pain management clinics, or “pill mills,” and those dealing prescription medications illegally.
Tennessee lawmakers enacted stricter and more specific laws earlier this year dealing with synthetic drug use as well. The new laws make the sale and use of all synthetic drugs illegal. Previously, synthetics manufacturers were continuously skirting the law by changing the chemical composition of the synthetic drugs. The unknown composition of synthetic drugs makes them especially dangerous, and their effects are unpredictable.
“As your district attorney, I will continue to work to eliminate the abuse of prescription and synthetic drugs in Tennessee,” Cox said. “I hope you will join this effort by sharing this information with your family, friends and colleagues.”
The Deceptive Danger DVD shows real Tennesseans fighting through potentially deadly addictions to prescription medications and synthetic drugs. Their stories reveal how devastating these addictions are. The video contains information about the dangers of prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse and the legal consequences of using and selling these substances.
“Prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse is a growing problem in Tennessee, and one we must curb as quickly as possible,” said Guy Jones, deputy director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. “The Deceptive Danger campaign gives our DAs a chance to show young Tennesseans the repercussions of using these drugs that at first might appear relatively harmless to them. Everyone needs to know these drugs are dangerous.”
For more information about Deceptive Danger or to schedule a presentation for your school or organization, call District Attorney Bill Cox at 423-209-7400.
Source: District Attorney General