Driving to work the other day, I heard a news story that gives me a glimmer of hope that the governor is starting to head in the right direction on some things, and certainly on the issue of how to confront the prescription drug abuse epidemic in our state.

In the past month, Gov. Paul LePage has empowered Maine’s attorney general to create a Prescription Drug Task Force addressing the dangers that prescription drug abuse poses to our state.

According to the governor’s executive order, nearly 1,400 Mainers have died from overdoses of pharmaceutical drugs in the last decade, drugrelated deaths now exceed traffic fatalities in Maine and more than 500 babies born in Maine in 2010 faced opiate withdrawal and other effects of their mothers’ prescription drug abuse.

I hope the task force can help answer the question many local communities have been asking for years: Why is it so easy for Maine residents to obtain and abuse prescription drugs?

Prescription drugs are often easy for young people to acquire. Perhaps you have some in your home — a prescription painkiller left over from an injury or medical procedure, a sleeping aid that you take occasionally, an antidepressant you store in the bathroom medicine cabinet. This easy access to prescription medications is how the problem may start for some young people.

In fact, the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health ( www.oas.samhsa.gov/nhsda. htm) found that more than 70 percent of people who abused prescription pain relievers got them from friends or relatives, while only 5 percent got them from a drug dealer or over the Internet.

Reasons young adults decide to abuse prescription drugs certainly vary, but too many teenagers view prescription drugs as a safe and easy way to get high, thinking that if a doctor prescribes the drug, it must be safer than the “ harder drugs” like cocaine or heroin, and it’s certainly easier and safer to obtain.

As parents, how do we know if our child might be experimenting?

Most of us are able to identify someone who has been drinking or using marijuana by the person’s actions or by the odors substances leave behind. Identifying someone who is abusing prescription drugs is much more difficult.

So while the prescription drug abuse rates in our state continue to rise, it is hard for parents, schools and law enforcement to easily detect someone who could be under the influence of a prescription medication.

Signs of potential prescription drug abuse depend on what medication is being abused, and could include constricted pupils, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, delusions, flushed skin, chest pain with heart palpitations, slurred speech, dizziness and trouble breathing.

If you suspect that your child may be experimenting with prescription drugs, please do not ignore the physical evidence, in addition to the health symptoms.

Look for such things as cut drinking straws or pens with their innards removed. Since opiates are often snorted, these can be the tools used for this. Also, small sandwich bags and razor blades may be a sign of drug use.

Share your suspicions and concerns with your teen.

Be aware that simple urine drug tests can be purchased over the counter at most drugs stores; the tests can be done at home, protecting your privacy; and the results are quick — less than five minutes.

If your child tests positive for opiates, get professional help. Opiate addiction is very difficult to overcome, and you and your child will need professional help to deal with the problem.

Locally, Mid Coast Hospital’s Addiction Resource Center ( 373- 6970) has many resources for individuals dealing with addiction. For parents of school- age children, many schools have a substance abuse counselor available several days a week who can talk to your child confidentially.

There are some simple things parents can do to prevent prescription drug abuse:

— Talk to your child about the dangers of medication misuse.

— Monitor quantities and keep track of medications that are in your house.

— Follow doctors orders.

— Set clear rules about not sharing medications and model this behavior.

— Safeguard medications you have on hand by keeping them out of reach of children.

— Properly dispose of unwanted or expired medications at the next Community Medication Collection event on April 28 or in one of the five new secure Medication Collection Boxes recently installed at the Brunswick, Bath, Topsham, Richmond police stations and Sagadahoc County Sheriff ’s Department (visit www.midcoastcasa.org for details).

One thing parents should never do is think it won’t be their child and ignore the issue. We must follow Gov. LePage’s lead — recognize the dangers of prescription drug abuse in our community and identify what role we can play in reducing this epidemic and helping our neighbors obtain treatment.

KATHI NEES works at Mt. Ararat High School and is a CASA member.