Millennium Health, Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation tackle teen drug abuse with new film

SAN DIEGO — Millennium Health and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation have announced the availability of a short film, “If Only,” about the dangers of youth misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. The film and a discussion toolkit are now available online as a component of the Drop Them Off campaign that launched earlier this year. “If Only,” which premiered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and San Diego, aims to increase awareness among teenagers, parents and the public about the importance of ensuring safe use, storage and disposal of prescription drugs.

 

“Prescription drug misuse and abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and this film illustrates the danger this poses to youth today,” Brock Hardaway, CEO Millennium Health, said. "We are taking a grassroots approach to providing information about the problem, steps to safely use, store and dispose of prescription drugs, and materials that empower adults to initiate discussions with young people about the dangers and consequences of misusing prescription drugs.”

 

“As the film ‘If Only’ shows, it's critical that every parent and teen know the dangers that prescription drugs pose in every neighborhood, in every city,” said James Wahlberg, executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. “Through our partnership with Millennium Health, we are giving adults new tools that will help them take action to prevent kids from accessing prescription drugs, and to help them have necessary and effective conversations with kids about the issues.

 

Millennium Health and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation launched the Drop Them Off campaign in collaboration with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids' Medicine Abuse Project. The campaign aims to help educate parents, youth and the public about the dangers of youth misusing and abusing prescription drugs by encouraging proper use, storage and disposal to curb access.