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More Iowa students taking drugs as a result of peer pressure
By Staff Writer
Peer pressure has not only been known to cause anxiety in teenagers, but it can also push them to use illicit substances to cope with stress. Recently, prescription drugs have become popular among high school students, and one Iowa community is struggling to reduce the amount of substance abusers. Over the past six months, nine high school students from Clinton, Iowa, were arrested for stealing, selling and using prescription drugs, according to the Clinton Herald. The Office of National Drug Control Policy says that prescription medications have become the second-most abused substance in the U.S. However, the city of Clinton is attempting to take proactive measures in light of the recent crimes. Clinton High School nurse Dar Fox held a presentation for the Clinton Community School Board, highlighting that one in five students across the country admit to using prescription drugs. Fox's goal was to raise awareness of the problem and the fact that many teens are unaware of what they are taking. More than 20 million Americans admitted to using illicit substances within a 30-day period in 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Family Services. Drug rehab centers can help kids who are addicted to harmful substances.
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