CHARLOTTE, NC– Local teens using and abusing drugs. It’s the same old problem, with new growing concerns.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe says he is concerned about experimental teens getting mixed up with deadly drugs substances like black tar heroine and white powder heroine: two forms of the highly addictive drug being made stronger, cheaper, and easier than ever.
“Heroine is killing our kids. It’s hurting our kids,” says Chief Monroe, “…you have kids that sit in classrooms everyday stoned out of their mind, and in some cases, people don’t even recognize it.”
Charles Odell with the Dilworth Center says in addition to heroine and marijuana, teens are big into prescription pills and when they run out, he says they often turn to the streets to buy, trade, and sell drugs. Anything to get their fix.
“They’re not in it for the money, they’re in it for the free drugs,” says Odell.
Monroe says more dealers, including young dealers, is leading to a higher rate of street crime, that all too often, leads to violence or worse.
“One shooting–one death–is too many,” says the Chief.
He says keeping drugs off the street is a top priority, but keeping it out of kids’ book-bags is up to diligent parents.
Chief Monroe says regarding teen drug use, parents need to be on top of it. They need to know who their kids are hanging out with, what they’re being exposed to, and what they’re doing.
