Parents and Rest of Ringgold Community Tackle Prescription Drug Abuse Problem

Parents pack Ringgold High School tonight to tackle a terrifying problem.

Three students from that school have died in a month...at least one of them from prescription drug abuse.

Tonight the community gathered to talk, comfort each other and plan the best course of action to keep their kids safe

Chris Evans, Parent, "We're a family at Ringgold. We love these kids. And these parents are pulling together to be there for the kids."

Behind closed doors parents, students and other community members meet at Ringgold High School.

Larry Morris, Parent, "So many times parents feel like they're just lost in this. They've got nobody to turn to. This meeting, knowing that they can reach out to the other parents around them and know that they have somebody else in this community who wants to support them it sends a great message."

After a month where Catoosa Sheriff Phil Summers says 16 year old Timothy Smith died from an overdose of the powerful prescription pain killer oxycodone, on a weekend when at least four kids got high from it, this is an understandably emotional time.

Toni Chow, Parent, "Kids saw this other boy passed out. You know what are we saying about the morals of our youth. Talk to them !Tell them are you going to be part of the problem or part of the solution. And it's time that parents step up. Quit blaming everybody else and just take care of your own kids."

Parents say the tragedy brought home an important message...prescription drug abuse kills. And it has led many of them to take action.

Evans, "You think well the doctor gave me the prescription for this so it's ok to have it in my medicine cabinet. We've got parents in there flushing these things, doing away with them. It's education on both sides of the fence."

And they say students are stepping up too.

Julia Craig, Parent, "A lot of the kids are willing to meet with other kids and tell them what they have been through and also they are kind of educating them on the dangers of these drugs."

Besides Timothy Smith, one other student died after collapsing at school. Another reportedly committed suicide.