By Staff Writer

According to a recent report in the Redwood Times, officials from Humboldt County, California, have announced that they will be holding a "Prescription Round Up" for area citizens.

Public health officials told the Times that prescription medications -- many of which may contain opioids or opiates -- could be accessed by children and teens if they are not properly disposed of. However, by properly discarding these medications, parents can help fight the nation's rising rates of prescription drug abuse and opiate addiction.

In 2008, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported that each day, about 2,000 teens between ages 12 and 17 engage in the recreational abuse of prescription medications

Recent nationwide studies have shown that prescription medication abuse is on the rise. Furthermore, these drugs are becoming increasingly popular among teens and young adults. As a result, many government agencies at the state and county levels across the U.S. are providing its residents with programs to discard unwanted prescriptions to help prevent the medications from reaching the wrong hands.