Erin Brochovich fights Teen Drug Addiction

Visions Adolescent Treatment Center's John Lieberman shares the work of our Adolescent Treatment Program on ABC News. 

Famous for fighting for California families, Erin Brochovich is fighting for her own daughter's life. Featured on ABC News, Erin Brochovich and her daughter Elizabeth shared their battle with Elizabeth's addiction. At 17 Elizabeth was using both street drugs and prescription medication, cocaine and Zanax. Elizabeth first smoked pot at age 12. 

Watch Erin Brochovich Fights Teen Drug Addiction ABC News

Like many parents Erin didn't want to believe her daughter was lying. The signs which alerted her that something was definitely wrong were:

• grades dropping
  
• changes in sleep patterns
  
• defiant behavior
  
• lying
  
• lack of eye contact

Teen Prescription Drug abuse Increases

Studies may indicate that the overall percentage of elicit teen drug use has declined over recent years. However, the teen use and subsequent teen abuse of prescription medication has steadily increased in this age group at an alarming rate. Many teens find the pills in their parent’s medicine cabinet IE., Oxycontin, Vicodin, Zanax, Klonopin and Ambien. Others share or buy them from peers. Shockingly, some teen drug abusers even rummage through their neighbors trash to find leftover prescriptions. Furthermore, teens may not risk buying illegal drugs when they can get high on many household products, such as aerosols and other inhalants.

Based on this information, it is important to remember that what we regard as “unsafe to children” extends to teens as well. Reconsider locking up anything that you might consider dangerous to a child. When you throw away an old prescription, seal it, and grind it up in cat litter or old coffee grounds. These simple precautions may save the life of someone, namely someone you love.