Mr Kidder, thank you for your time and effort. I have prescription drugs and have not secured them in the past, I do now. Remove the temptation hopefully. On a side note, I was watching one of those Intervention shows a few nights ago and found it strange that they were actually saying how a person could get high off combinations of drugs and to crush them to snort instead of smoking or just swallowing them. I know you can find the information to do this if you really want to but why make it so obvious as to which drugs to combine to get higher, combining drugs is very dangerous and many overdoses/suicides are due to combining drugs. Very sad, I cant recall dealing with these types of things when I was young(yes in the dark ages) for me it was alcohol which was readily available and let me tell you our parents sure as heck noticed that was missing.

BTY I loved Quaaludes, good old rorer 714 I miss them. Methaqualone was the biggest recreational drug of the 70s and Dr Quaalude as he was known in Madison had a business for years and then they took them off the market.

When reading the article where it was stated the young boy that overdosed It was IMO not his first time as it said "he took some and then snorted one" That makes me think he has tried this before. Just my opinion but,Maybe they should research the doctors who prescribe these high doses of narcotics and see if the patient actually has the pain that requires such drugs.And check to see if their levels are accurate for the dose recommended and to see if taken orally or snorted. So many are becoming addicted to narcotics at an amazing pace. I know my immediate family members (5 out of 7) have been on pain meds for years and I don't see any of them in the kind of pain that would justify the amounts they get. One finds a doctor that is more then willing to prescribe percs/vics/oxy's and the rest of them end up at the same doctor. It is sad for me to watch them deteriorate mentally and physically and know they will die without them. Some have gone to the Methadone programs (WHICH IMO sould be shut down)Then go to ritalyn to stay awake long enough to get the last of their daily dose WHAT A WAY TO EXIST, it sure isn't living.....

Thank you, justme 46. You make my point quite clear. She a child but weather she should know right from wrong comes back to the adults in her life.To teach her (common since) you are not born with it ,it has to be tought.By the parents,grandparents,aunts,uncles and teachers.But we are so busy in this world we fogot how to raise owe childern. If any adult left a gun for a child to get and accidently cause harm the adult would be charged.But in this society the child would be held for blame also.An accident is not a crime.

Amazzing, yes she is a child, but she knows what she did. It is not as if she is 2 years old. She should know right and wrong. I do not agree with adult court either, it seems like someone in the judicial system is trying to look good! That is my opinion. I think she needs to be put under custody, but not in an adult jail, they will keep her seperated I think. When she turns 18, give her one chance to make a difference and see how it goes, again under constant outside supervision. She had a hand in this boy taking his own life. So did her grandmother, her mother and the boys mother. Who would not know that their children were staying up past 10 p.m. on a school night? They should have been supervised better. JMO (just my opinion)

It,s so great that society would allow a child to go to ADULT court for a unfortionate event.Like her boyfriend died for taking drugs that he has obviuosly have taken many times with her and his other friends before.The kids have been helping themselves to the medicine cabinets for decades it's not anything new. He never died before. It's not her fault, she didnot MAKE him take the drugs.Let's put GRANDMA in jail for not locking up her dangerous drugs.She must be a real idiot not to have done so.She let her grand daughter become a drug dealer/manslater (WHAT she never noticed any pills were EVER missing before?)OK, whatever. NO 13/14 year old child should ever go to Adult court because of an unforeseable accident.Yes ACCIDENT. (that means it wasn't a planned event).IF so than we should all keep the kids from driving or going anywhere or do anything without supervision til they are 18yrs old and responsable for themselves. If the people let this CHILD go to ADULT court, WE will have ALL FAILED.To keep this a fair and just America.Lets help her with the shock, depression and sorrow of losing a friend in such a way.IDIOTS, GET HER OUT OF JAIL, that is not were a child of tragidty belongs, do you what to messup the rest of her life or don't you really care about that. WE all say we what to HELP people.This helps NOBODY.WE are not taking any of the responsablity at all. Let's just blame the poor inicent child. We don't have the stones to take any of the blame. And this is the way it will keep going til we all WAKE UP.

SarahB1, My point on the Qualudes was that it was so abused, that it had to be pulled. I realized it was in a different class.

No youdon'thavealife, did you read my first post (all caps)? When this situation first came to light, I was really bashed for suggesting we, as parents and grandparents, lock up all our meds. Is that too hard for you to grasp? If so, I am sorry. I don't talk baby talk!!!JMO

Woodsman, you are the s.o.b. that cut down my very first post on this subject about a month ago. Yes, locks are necessary on everything that is dangerous to a child! When I was little, many moons ago, I got into the kitchen cupboard and decided to inhale comet, I was only 2 at the time. Back then parents never thought of the things parents SHOULD think of NOW. To this day when I smell comet I sneeze!!

meerkat has a point. The medical establishment should be called to task for thousands of people who started with easy access to oxy and other opiates, which are so outrageously addictive. Too often, this leads to a willingness to court death by using the cheaper alternative, heroin.
Remember, docs: First, do no harm.
That said, locking up your drugs would not hurt and could help.

Thank you Ihavealife - I like your screen name - I will have to change mine to ihavealife2 in your honor - woops - can't do that since I don't have a life. :-0

I have "NEVER" had to lock up pills,car keys,money(any amount could be left on a dresser or end table)and not one of my kids,or their friends would touch anything that didn't belong to them! You people that have thieves in your home(you know if you do or not)call the cops from day one,never allow a thief to be in your home,and if they steal from you "ONCE" they NEVER can be in your home again,tuff love,but i hate a thief!!

The problem lies in the drug itself. Opioides! Very powerfull and mostly abused. Anyone recall the drug company getting sued for lying about how additive they were? Anyone remember Qualudes? This drug was pulled because it was mostly abused. The same should go for Oxy!

Oh gee, I found the Key to mom's cabinet. This will never happen right?

With the locks throw in some parental education, you know the kind that use to come standard issue to previous generations.

Phil, so Dr.'s should go to the home of the patients and do a narcotic count before writing a script? It is always easy to blame dr's for things we should be responsible for. How about this common sense solution..... How about taking all unused medications back to the pharmacy for disposal or taking them to the drug drop off sites? That way we are taking responsibility for our own person and family.

If the type of lock shown is typical of the ones being installed makes me doubt how secure they really are. If kids really want to get at locked up prescription drugs they can always use their own key - a pry bar or claw hammer.

The Drs. are the ones that need to be held accountable. They need to check and see if their "patient" has gotten any scripts for narcotics recently before they give them one.

If you treat kids like they're criminals, they'll act like criminals.

If someone could help me with this, this girl who is a minor is responsible for another minor's behavior but none of the parents are?

Is it "JuStMe" or does anyone else think someone needs to chill?

Thank you again Ken! I met you through a couple of charities you supported and now again you are reaching out to help. It sometimes takes a simple solution to a complex problem.

We all feel terrible when a life is lost. The important thing to look at is why did this, not having locks, not cause others to meet the same demise? I am not trying to be flip about the seriousness of the issue, but feel good measures like this and gun locks don't solve the problem it just takes away an avenue or means. As others have said the installation of a lock should not be considered a solution and cause parents/family/friends the false hope that everything will then be ok. There are always underlying issues that lead someone to think of the act, without addressing these nothing will change no matter how big a lock is used.

"What responsible adult would not notice the first bunch missing..."

Perhaps the MANY that only need and use just a few of the prescribed 30 at a time?...

Prescriptions are commonly prescribed in 30 day (or more) increments even when seven days worth would suffice.

Thus, who would notice the rest missing if they are not needed/used?

The girl in jail for handing out prescription meds had access to many pills on more than one occasion. Even after being expelled for handing out the same meds. Would you not think the adults in that household would secure things up?

What responsible adult would not notice the first bunch missing and come to the conclusion they have a problem child in the house and need to store medication either in a safe or loose the drugs all together. Who takes this stuff??

My bet is they will be the ones who would not call for a lock even if it is free.

I am afraid not much will change until you get into the homes of idiots who allow these things to happen, for this I have little faith. As a first time parent I anticipate loosing sleep every time my child is outside my safe home.

What a wonderful and kind service Mr. Kidder is providing. Let us know when you run out of locks, I will be in line to donate as many as I can.

Stupid humor alert:
This is a very serious topic and I don’t want to demean it but, the picture of Ken Kidder looks like an upgrade to the, “SAW” movies.

Seriously, good idea Mr. Kidder.

thinkbeforeyouspeak...

This is not a matter of satisfying me. I am just pointing out the obvious.

This all stems from a very unfortunate incident. And I would be willing to bet that in this particular case the young lady would have indeed looked for and found the key.

Most grandparents could not remember a combination, so would have to write it down...of which anyone who really wanted...could find.

So, again... I assert, it is just a false sense of security...

Of the same level of the old public service announcements of years gone by...lock your car...don't help a good kid go bad.

Point being...if a kid has it in their mind to do something...a lock will only slow them down...not stop them.

Don't forget to lock up the key too or hide it well!

ihavealife- just read your comment. We think alike!

I worry some parents wont spend the money to protect the meds from the children or viceversa I mean. They have more important stuff to buy.

To adopt a phrase from President Reagan: Teach and trust, but verify. No matter how good or strong a relationship between parents and children, there is no substitute for verification. With drug tests as cheap as they are nowadays, I can't imagine any parent NOT wanting to take advantage of them.

miktradan... great post. I have a (almost) 10 year old grand daughter and this scares the stuffing outta me! I know my daughter has been unrelenting about drugs with her 3 kids. I was as well. Just keeping this at the forefront of public awareness can help.

Kids just have this sense of immortality. The younger the child, the more likely they are to think they will NOT die. They are so gullible. Peer pressure is intense and gets worse by the decade!

Something has to happen. Our kids are being bombarded daily with temptation and friends with no parental guidance. They seem to fall into the cracks when they get into the "wrong" crowd. Parents, be aware and TALK to your children. And again, KNOW their friends and THE FRIEND'S FAMILIES!

theone, would a combination lock satisfy you? it would be a start, right?

ihavealife....true, very true. BUT finding the key would require physical effort/labor. Not sure about other teens, but mine certainly isn't going to exert too much effort for something like this. Now if it were her cell phone......LOL

What a great idea. I think that it's wonderful that someone is speaking out and willing to put their time and energy into this. If someone has another idea, hey, bring that to the table too. With a topic like this more definitely is better. Drug abuse is like a cancer in the respect that somehow, someway everyone's life is touched by it in a negative way. What a wonderful way to try and beat this, than to put all of our heads together and support each other with ways to get rid of or make it harder for our kids to get a hold of these drugs. I have a 10 year old and needless to say I am terrified, but very aware, of the dangers that this poses. We all have a responsibility as parents, not just to our kids, but others as well to keep our eyes and ears open.

ihavealife is correct....

This will be just another level of a false sense of security.

If you really think they won't find the key....think again.

Thank you Mr. Kidder for your efforts in the Edgerton area. This is exactly the type of creative action that can be the result of our partnering with neighboring law enforcement agencies on the recent public awareness presentations. Please take note of the advice to lock up your medications. One medication taken by a person for which it is not prescribed can be as deadly as a bullet fired from a gun. Please consider your prescription medication bottles as being equally as deadly as the firearms you have in your homes. If anybody in Milton would like to consider starting a similar program, please contact me at 868-6910 ext. 25, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/miltonpdwi.

Thank You;
Lt. John Conger
City of Milton Police Department

What a great idea and service.

There are numerous at-home drug tests available. I think it would be wise for ALL parents to test their children on occasion. Since these kits are cheaper per-use when ordered in bulk, perhaps a community organization could by them as such. Here's a link for one:

http://www.americanscreeningcorp.com/sto...

I just want to voice something here so your going to lock your med cabinets in hopes that this helps. It may stop some kids from using or taking these drugs for the first time, but if the kids already have problems they are going to find somewhere or someone else to get the drugs from. I think parents need to stop being so naive and start to look for signs that there children may be using drugs and not think "my kid is a good kid they would never do that", or blame it on another kid for giving them the drugs, your child took the drugs on there own free will . . . Kids from about 10 to 12 and up know what the drugs are and what they can do. . . We go over these things in school. . . A straight a students who doesn't cause any problems and goes to church everyday and listens to their paretns still can be a drug user or a drug addict!

justme46, relax. Being sensible around here is an invitation to be attacked. It's more fun to find someone to blame and burn at the stake.
.
Also important: Take unneeded prescription drugs to the county's Rx Round-Up on April 17. There will be confidential drop-off locations in Janesville, Beloit, and Edgerton. It's free, you don't need to pre-register, but drugs must be in their original containers. Old pills may lose their potency or increase their toxicity, and you shouldn't reuse antibiotics regardless (always complete the full course at the time of prescription).
http://www.co.rock.wi.us/index.php/rx-ro...

YES, I AM GOING TO YELL!!! DO ALL YOU NEGATIVE POSTERS, NOT YOU TWO, REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN THIS DRUG OVERDOSE HAPPENED? WELL, MY POST ON HERE SAID TO LOCK UP YOUR MEDS AND BOY OH BOY DID I GET RIPPED ON! EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT WAS TOTALLY INSANE! LOOK BACK, YOU'LL SEE IT AND IF NOT I'LL BET THE ONES WHO KNOCKED MY IDEA WILL RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES.

I think it is a great idea. I have a son the same age as Alex and I couldn't imagine losing him to something like this.

Good for you KEN! Doing nothing,and sweeping things like this under the rug,will not get anything accomplished! So good luck with trying something,kids are pretty sneaky though,if their is a will,their is a way, they will find a way in that won't be noticed! A safe would be more secure,the drugs can kill,as we know,so treat these drugs like you would a loaded GUN!