The first annual National Rx Drug Abuse Summit was held April 10-12 in Orlando, Florida. Attendees were introduced to the subject from the moment they entered the conference center through a very poignant visual display – picture upon picture of young people lining the hall like hundreds of sentinels, all silent testimonies to the dangers of abuse and misuse of prescription drugs.
To better understand the scope of the problem of this nationwide epidemic and foster cooperation between agencies and the community, national and state leaders met with state and federal law enforcement officials, medical professionals, rehabilitation and recovery experts, educators, insurance managers, and pharmaceutical executives.
Federal and state government officials included: Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske; U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin; Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear; U.S. Representatives Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-Ky), Mary Bono Mack (R-Ca),Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV), and Jack Kingston (R-Ga); and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
During a press conference following the Summit’s first session, Kerlikowske told attendees that prescription drugs is the fastest growing drug problem and account for one death every nineteen minutes. He identified Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia as “ground zero” for prescription drug abuse and Florida as the top supplier, but emphasized that the problem is nationwide and no state is exempt.
“This is an epidemic that stretches from Hollywood to Hazard, KY,” said Congressman Rogers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from prescription drugs now exceed deaths from heroin and cocaine combined and in many states, exceeded deaths from automobile accidents. “In Kentucky, an average of 82 people dies each month as a result of a drug overdose. Medicine cabinets have become more dangerous than cars,” Rogers said.
Rev. Snow Peabody, Teen Challenge, USA National Representative to Washington, D.C. was invited as the sole representative for faith-based drug rehabilitation and recovery programs. “The problem is epidemic in our nation. When you hear approximately 70 people are dying each day, it truly is cause for alarm,” he said. “Teen Challenge is already providing help for those with prescription drug abuse and other life-controlling issues to find freedom through our recovery programs.”
Rev. Peabody was one of four representatives invited to personally discuss the issue with Congresswoman Mack in a private session. Rev. Peabody was able to express Teen Challenge USA’s desire to partner with local, state, and national government leaders to provide our recovery services for those needing help to come off illegal prescription use, and find a new life through our faith-based programs. The need for good prevention programs to the public schools was also discussed, and Teen Challenge USA’s Stay Sharp program was received with interest by Congresswoman Mack. In a letter to Rev. Peabody following the Summit she wrote, “Please know that I will keep your views and recommendations in mind as I work on legislation related to this critically important issue.”
“We need a federal response, a state response and a local response. All are important,” said Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (CADCA) Chairman and CEO, General Arthur Dean. “It’s a combination of strategies that are needed, and that’s what coalitions are doing across the country.”
Karen Kelly, president of Operation UNITE and organizer of the summit stressed that the goal of this year’s Rx summit is for agencies to work together on policies to curb pill abuse at the state and federal levels. “If we walk away with that, this will be a tremendous success,” she said.
Progress on a national level is difficult with limited federal funding. However, Congresswoman Mack sees hope: “We must do more with less,” she stated. “We need to become personal activists in the fight against drug abuse.”
The Pill Mill Crackdown Act of 2011 was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Joe Manchin, (D-W.Va), and in the House by Rep. Mark Kirk, (R-Ill.). This bill would increase penalties for pill mill operators and some of that money would pay for drug monitoring and rehab programs. The bill has not yet been refe
