INDIANAPOLIS – Attorney General Greg Zoeller kicked-off the 5th Annual Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Symposium Friday. The symposium is the culmination of year-round efforts to combat prescription drug abuse in the state.
The symposium titled, “Reversing the Tide of Opioid Abuse,” is hosted by the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, which Zoeller founded and currently co-chairs. The two-day workshop allows Indiana’s health professionals, law enforcement officials, legislators and other stakeholders to collaborate and share ideas on how to significantly reduce prescription drug abuse.
More people abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants combined, and one in five Indiana teenagers has admitted to abusing prescription drugs. A recent study by Trust for America’s Health revealed the number of deaths caused by overdoses in Indiana has quadrupled since 1999.
“Our state is plagued by a national epidemic of people misusing, abusing and overdosing on prescription drugs, especially opioid painkillers,” Zoeller said. “Working to coordinate a systemic approach to address this serious public health concern remains one of my top priorities. A commitment to education, training and policy change by all key players is making a difference in Indiana to stem this deadly trend.”
Since its creation in 2012, the Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force has worked to provide research, education and recommendations to the state legislature, as well as medical professionals who prescribe opioids.
In December of 2013, new emergency rules took effect to provide more oversight for opioid prescribing in hopes of curbing addiction, doctor shopping and overprescribing. Since that time, Indiana has seen a decline in the amount of opioids being prescribed to patients of nearly 11 percent.
The Indiana General Assembly has supported several other initiatives in recent years to combat Rx drug abuse, including enhanced reporting requirements to the state’s prescription drug monitoring database, loan forgiveness for students pursuing careers in addiction training, a review of the health problems in infants born to drug-addicted mothers and more.
Zoeller and lawmakers discussed these successes at today’s symposium, but also addressed further actions that can be taken to continue the fight against prescription drug abuse. State Sens. Pat Miller, Ron Grooms, Jim Merritt and State Reps. Ed Clere, Steve Davisson, and Gail Riecken as well as a representative from U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly’s office, participated in the panel discussion titled, “Federal and State Policy Solutions to Combat Rx Drug Abuse.”
“Though we’ve made important strides to curb prescription drug abuse in Indiana, our work is far from over,” Zoeller said. “There is a false perception that prescription drugs are safe, and too many young people have easy access, without a physician, to these dangerous, potent medications. Another concern is that opioid abuse often leads to the abuse of other illicit substances, causing a lifetime of drug addiction. We have the motivation and tools to stop this epidemic, and I’m committed to maintaining our focus on this issue.”
The 5th Annual Prescription Drug Abuse Symposium attracted nearly 800 attendees from all corners of the state, and is focused on topics including education, treatment and recovery, prescription drug monitoring, prescription drug disposal and enforcement. For a list of speakers and workshops from this year’s symposium, click here.
Zoeller thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for serving as one of the sponsors of this year’s symposium, and for passing rules that give the public more options to dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs.
Starting this month, pharmacies and other health facilities are able to register as controlled substance collectors, making it easier and more convenient for people to get dangerous prescription drugs out of home medicine cabinets and away from potential abusers.
Visit www.BitterPill.IN.gov for more information about prescription drug abuse and where to find help.
