Hannibal (WSYR-TV) -- Over the past couple of weeks, multiple students have been caught trying to sell prescription drugs at Hannibal High School.
One of those students has been arrested and charged with a Class E felony for trying to sell prescription morphine. And we’re told administrators at the school are ready to lead the fight against the problem of prescription drug abuse in Central New York.
Hannibal High School Principal Brian Schmitt told NewsChannel 9, “Like many schools across the nation we’re facing, I would say, an epidemic of students who are abusing prescription drugs.”
Schmitt says the way to kill prescription drug abuse in schools is with kindness and lots of education.
“You have to care enough to stop, to build that relationship and talk with a student and say, 'I care about you. We want to make sure you have a healthy lifestyle and we recognize a change in you.' If it's a negative change, we make sure it's supported,” Schmitt said.
New York's Attorney General says prescriptions for pain killers have increased by six million statewide in the last four years. So when morphine showed up in Hannibal High School, Schmitt knew he needed to act fast.
Schmitt says as soon as he felt comfortable he sent a letter home to parents. The letter explained how important it is to stay informed about the growing prescription drug problem in Central New York.
Included in the letter, it says: "It is crucial that parents maintain an accurate count of prescriptions and ensure that children have limited access to consume or distribute these illegally."
Schmitt says it's not just imperative for parents to be on the look out, but it should also be part of the school’s curriculum to learn about prescription drug abuse.
"You are your brother's keeper, and you have to work together to look out for each other because we are a big family," Schmitt said. "We call ourselves a family here at Hannibal High School."
The school is working with the students caught with attempting to distribute prescription drugs. The students have been suspended from extra curricular activities and will have to attend drug and alcohol abuse counseling.
