Addicted Teacher Sentenced

Addiction is no laughing matter, and 34-year-old Douglas Wilkinson would probably agree.

The former Cedar Falls High School teacher and coach was sentenced in Waterloo Monday to 10 days in jail for stealing student medications.

According to CBS2 News, Wilkinson said he had become addicted to painkillers, which led him to steal medications from the school nurses' office. He was caught on surveillance camera and was arrested February 9.

Addiction to prescription medications is a fast growing problem. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that  2.1 million people in the United States suffer from substance use disorders.

If you think you may have a problem with prescription painkillers, there is help available here.

And if you'd simply like some information on safer alternatives to potentially addictive medications, we suggest you click on this link to the NIDA website for up-to-date information on your choice of non-habit forming options.

[source:CBS2 News, National Institute on Drug Abuse]