Politics & Government
Doctors and Lawmakers Meet to Discuss Prescription Abuse
Prescription drug abuse has become the leading cause of accidental death in the United States; today's open discussion looks for solutions.
Local lawmakers, doctors and law enforcement officials were on the panel at a town-hall forum today in the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage focusing at curbing prescription drug abuse.
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, State Assemblyman Brian Nestande and Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Jeanne Roy were joined on the panel by Betty Ford Center Physician Director Dr. Harry Hartoutunian, Eisenhower Medical Center ER Director Dr. Euthym Kontaxis and Stacie Mathewson, who offered a mother’s perspective on the dangers of prescription drug abuse, espleically among school-aged children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, drug overdose has overtaken auto accidents as the leading cause of accidental injury or death in the United States. The CDC also reports that the abuse of prescription medications is the fastest-growing drug problem in America.
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“This was a really great discussion and, hopefully, it will help to make more people aware of the tremendous toll prescription drug abuse is taking on our society.” Bono Mack said following the event.
The congresswoman pointed to legislation she has introduced, the Stop Oxy Abuse Act (HR 1316) and the Ryan Creedon Act (HR 2119), as steps in the right direction in the fight against prescription drug abuse.
