Sioux Falls police have charged two teenagers with illegally having prescription pills while at Roosevelt High School.

Officer Sam Clemens says two teenage boys, ages 15 and 16, had Valium, muscle relaxants, and anti-biotics. Both of the boys are facing charges of drug possession and ingesting, but the 15-year-old is also facing distribution charges. Police tell KSFY that drugs are commonly found on teens and in Sioux Falls Schools.

Inside those crowded hallways, police say drugs are out there. They regularly sweep the school for drugs with their K-9 units. By and large, police say marijuana is the most common drug they find in lockers. However, their acquisition of Valium and other pills follows a nationwide increase in teenage illicit use of prescription drugs.

To break free from substance abuse, more than a 150 kids stay at an in-patient residence unit at the Volunteers of America Heisler Chemical Dependency Treatment Program in Sioux Falls. As chemical dependency services director, Chris Sandvig says he has treated kids for about every kind of drug. He says that's because drugs are easy for kids to get.

"If they want to find drugs or alcohol they can find it. That's why it's important for parents, the teachers, the other people in these adolescents lives to be aware of this," said Sandvig. He told KSFY that parents are on the front-lines in their kids lives. Prevention starts by setting a good example.

"Sometimes, if the parents get too caught up with their own stuff and ignore what's going on with their child, that's when they child starts to look for other avenues," said Sandvig.

But quite often, he says kids who come from good families get caught up in drugs too. It can happen to anyone, he said. Sandvig says parents can look for warning signs, like chronic eye redness, sore throat or dry cough, lying, and big changes in friends.

The Partnership for Drug-Free America has helpful hints on what to do if you think your child is on drugs and that article can be found here.

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