5800 Santa Rosa Road Suite 112

Camarillo, CA 93012-7060
Press Release

Contact: Richard Weiner                                                       For Immediate Release

Email: [email protected]                           Monday, October 31, 2011

Phone: 805-383-7882

Adolfo Camarillo High School students get hard facts on drug abuse

Camarillo California — Sherrie and Michael Rubin spoke about their son Aaron’s drug addiction, how it started with marijuana and alcohol before escalating to powerful prescription drugs until he nearly died from an overdose of OxyContin in 2005.

The overdose led to a heart attack and two strokes. Aaron Rubin, once a high school athlete, was left a quadriplegic, unable to speak and needing 24-hour care.

His parents brought him to the gymnasium at Adolpho Camarillo High School on Friday October the 28th. He can raise his fingers, one to say yes, two to say no, and participated in the discussion that way, answering questions about the choices he had made.

“We never thought this could happen but it does happen,” Michael Rubin told the audience. “It happens to good families. It destroys your life. The Rubin’s have a website www.pillskill.net and make presentations to many organizations and schools.

Prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs behind marijuana among juveniles in the nation, DEA, s Special agent Rockwell E. Herron said during the session. They’re particularly popular among upper middle class youth, he said.

Herron, spoke about the warning signs that might show when someone is abusing drugs. They include declining school grades, loss of motivation, appetite and personal care. He encouraged the kids to not even think about experimenting with drugs because your first time could be your last time.

 Herron said young people are particularly vulnerable because prescription drugs can be found in the bathroom medicine cabinets. They can also be purchased from friends or “dirty doctors” or in Mexico.

The forum was organized by  Saving Lives Camarillo, a local community drug and alcohol prevention Coalition whose mission is to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems among Camarillo’s youth using media advocacy and proven public health and safety strategies that reduce availability.  “Saving one life is like saving the entire world” said Rabbi Aryeh Lang Director of Saving Lives Camarillo.

The Saving Lives Camarillo Coalition meets monthly and encourages all interested community members to attend and be a part of the Coalition; the next Coalition meeting is on Tuesday November 15th at 5:30 PM at 5800 Santa Rosa Rd #112 Camarillo Ca. 93012