Sue Wilson, a local suburban mom, is taking new precautions in her bathroom after her son was rushed to the emergency room. This wasn’t a broken bone visit, this was a visit to save her son, Jack’s, life after he over dosed on prescription medication.
Every day 2,500 youth abuse prescription drugs. “It’s a growing problem. They’re easy to access and easy to use,” states Sue. The concerned mom is now locking up all of her medications and keeping count of her pills in each bottle. “I am doing everything I can to make sure that Jack and I will never experience that day again.”
It all started off as a normal day, Sue dropped Jack off at school and was on her way to work. Jack walked home after school and later in the evening Sue returned home with the groceries. “I called up to Jack and asked what he wanted for dinner. He didn’t reply but at the time I thought nothing of it, I figured he had his head phones in or something,” Sue explained.
After she finished up dinner Sue called to him again but still received no reply. At this moment she knew something was wrong, “If he didn’t hear me he at least would’ve smelt dinner. Jack’s a big eater.” Sue laughed. She ran up the steps and without delay barged into his room. “No mother would ever be prepared to see what I saw next,” explained Sue. There was her 17 year old son, passed out on the bed with an empty pill bottle next to him. Jack was unconscious.
The 4’11 foot mom was unable to lift her 5’9 foot son so she dialed 911. “I don’t remember anything except waking up with IVs in my arm and my mom crying next to me. Everyone was trying it, I guess I just didn’t know my limits,” Jack explained. Doctors were doubtful about Jack’s recovery but his mother wasn’t. “The mix of emotions I felt when he opened his eyes was unbelievable. I just think if I hadn’t come home on time, if I hadn’t gone up stairs right away, where would we be?” Sue questioned. The hospital was able to pump the drug out of Jack’s blood flow and he was able to recover in 2 hospital days.
The Wilsons were very fortunate. Roughly, 22,400 drug overdose deaths occurred in the US last year and the numbers are increasing. Parents are encouraged to take precautions. One can deny their child’s usage but it’s out there and it’s happening. “Don’t just assume your Honor Roll student uses their brains all the time. You never know what you’ll come home to. Keep your child and those around them safe,” Sue added. Keep your bottles labeled and counted. Prescription medicine sales are on the rise along with the over doses. Our teens do not fully understand the risks so set out to educate the youth to put a stop to prescription drug abuse. Everyone won’t be as lucky as the Wilsons.
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