May 21, 2007
NewsChannel 19's Amber Stuart reports:
With summer break coming, teens are about to have a lot of time on their hands. Parents, we have a warning for you.
Hat parties are new for teens, and you don't want your teen to be invited to one of them.
What happens at a hat party? Basically, teens meet at a house with whatever pharmaceutical drugs they can bring from home. Then, they throw them in a hat, draw them out and play Russian Roulette with their lives.
It's not something you want to hear your daughter or son talk about. Hat parties are also known as "pharm parties." "Pharm" is short for pharmaceuticals.
Brandi Newberry helped shine some light on the subject for us.
"I know that people get together and you have a couple of hats sitting on the table or at the door. They hand them out and it's just got a whole lot of pills in them and you take one out or take a few out," said Newberry. "There's loud music and strobes."
Newberry says she's never been invited to a hat party.
"I've never been myself, no," said Newberry.
However, she has heard of teens in Madison County hosting the parties.
"Honestly, friends houses, somebody's house, or in a field or somewhere secluded," said Newberry.
Paul Fontaine is the Juvenile Drug Court Coordinator for Madison County. He says he's seen an increase in prescription drug use and kids involved in hat parties.
"We're finding that more and more kids are becoming drug addicts through their homes as opposed to from the streets," said Fontaine.
Joy Wagoner treats teens at New Horizons, a treatment facility for troubled teens. She says she's seen something even more sad.
"Some children don't remember substances that they've taken," said Wagoner pointing to a drug chart. "So they'll actually point out which ones they've taken."
Fontaine says you have to do more than just count the pills you have in your home to keep your kids safe.
"Make sure you secure these dangerous items," said Fontaine. "They are loaded guns."
Another dangerous side effect -- you don't smell prescription drugs like you would marijuana. So, communication is key.
"I just recommend to the parent if they can spend as much time with them," said Wagoner. "Talk with them, hug them as much as possible."
The most abused prescription drugs are Oxycontin, Zanax, and Hydrocodine. Investigators say they're also seeing a rise in Methadone abuse.
Experts encourage you to get your teens involved in summer programs or a job to beat the boredom and help them stay off drugs.
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