Prescription drug abuse and misuse is also high: for example, in 2013, 7.4 percent of high school students reported non-medical use of the stimulant Adderall in the past year. (“Drug Testing”) Although the results of these statistics are for high school students nationwide, the numbers certainly demonstrate that teen drug abuse is a real problem. Problems like these can be avoided with a simple solution; the implementation of a mentoring program. Mentoring programs, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, are used as an opportunity to help lost children find their way back. In these programs, older, responsible citizens volunteer to take a troubled child under their care in a way that resembles sibling relationships. Programs like these have been put in place across the country. In 1995, Public/Private Ventures conducted a survey regarding the children of Big Brothers Big Sisters. This survey assessed both matched and unmatched children and found that children matched with Big (i.e. Big Brothers or Big Sisters) were “46% less likely to start using illegal drugs” (“Big Impact "). Implementing a program like this would definitely benefit the children and teens of Wayne County. If these troubled youth enroll in a local mentoring program and are paired with a Big who will teach them and care for them, they will have a better chance of staying away from harmful substances and substances.

Topic > Prescription drug abuse and misuse is also high: for example, in 2013, 7.4 percent of high school students reported non-medical use of the stimulant Adderall in the past year. (“Drug Testing”) Although the results of these statistics are for high school students nationwide, the numbers certainly demonstrate that teen drug abuse is a real problem. Problems like these can be avoided with a simple solution; the implementation of a mentoring program. Mentoring programs, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, are used as an opportunity to help lost children find their way back. In these programs, older, responsible citizens volunteer to take a troubled child under their care in a way that resembles sibling relationships. Programs like these have been put in place across the country. In 1995, Public/Private Ventures conducted a survey regarding the children of Big Brothers Big Sisters. This survey assessed both matched and unmatched children and found that children matched with Big (i.e. Big Brothers or Big Sisters) were “46% less likely to start using illegal drugs” (“Big Impact "). Implementing a program like this would definitely benefit the children and teens of Wayne County. If these troubled youth enroll in a local mentoring program and are paired with a Big who will teach them and care for them, they will have a better chance of staying away from harmful substances and substances.