Fed’s Release New Plan to Control Prescription Drug Abuse

More than 1,100 Arizonans died from drug poisoning, which is more than the number of Arizonans that die in car accidents every year. This isn’t just an Arizona public health crisis, it’s a national one. Last week the federal government released a new plan to address the national prescription drug abuse epidemic and announced new Federal requirements aimed at educating the medical community about proper prescribing practices.

The report is called: Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis and it provides a national framework for reducing prescription drug diversion and abuse by supporting the expansion of state-based prescription drug monitoring programs, recommending more convenient disposal methods to remove unused medications from the home, supporting education for patients and healthcare providers, and reducing the prevalence of pill mills and doctor shopping through enforcement efforts.

By azdhs-admin|2011-06-14T08:08:12-07:00June 14th, 2011|General|5 Comments

About the Author: azdhs-admin

Arlis Jenkins is the Hepatitis C Epidemiology Program Manager at the Arizona Department of Health Services. Her work involves specialized knowledge of state and local jurisdictions, social determinants of health and harm reduction services including drug user health and sex positivity. She is tasked with hepatitis C elimination planning and strategy implementation, a collaborative project that necessitates statewide community engagement and the formation of strategic partnerships to increase access to quality hepatitis C prevention and care services for all Arizonans.

5 Comments

Michelle June 14, 2011 at 12:00 pm

It’s about time the Feds addressed the number health concern in the U.S. which is the dangers of prescription drugs (not just the abuse of these). According to the FDA over 250,000 Americans die each year from prescription drug interactions that are fatal. Two hundred people a year die from just taking aspirin which does have side effects.

We as a society have to start weaning overselves off of Big Pharma and their synthetic overpriced, poorly researched and deadly drugs. Just say no to your pill popping HMO doc that wants to get you on a regiment of prescription pills that only enriches his bottom line and Big Pharma. Start eating healthy, exercise (even if just walking around your neighborhood), keep your alcohol intake to a couple of glasses of brew or wine at social occasions, get a good night’s sleep and extend a helping hand to others in need. Live a good life and you’re health will follow.
Brochette June 15, 2011 at 7:05 am

My little brother died last year from overdose, it’s a real problem for our society, a plague for our children…

Regards,

Sophie
Manger Leger June 20, 2011 at 5:25 am

FED should be more offensive on drug monitoring programs.

It seems that most of time they just don’t care about this major problem.
Mark August 17, 2011 at 3:17 pm

The department’s vital statistics do not show how many people die from abuse of prescription drugs. Folks won’t realize how significant this problem is until they can see the stats.
- Will Humble August 18, 2011 at 1:05 pm
  
  Mark,
  Please view this post on prescription drug death statistics.

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