Oxycontin epidemic plagues North County youth

Experts agree: Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions.

Officials in a multi-agency effort banded together to fight the OxyContin and prescription drug problems in San Diego County and educate the community through a series of community forums.

The Oxy Task Force of San Diego County attacks the crisis through a comprehensive approach from four key areas: law enforcement, government policy, public education, and prevention and treatment.

“Prescription drugs have become the second most abused illegal drug behind marijuana in juveniles ages 12-17 and the most common abused in 12-...