Post by Logan on Jun 22, 2016 14:13:32 GMT -6
Gov. Brian Sandoval convened a drug abuse Summit on Tuesday saying prescription drug abuse, especially opioids such as Oxycontin, is reaching epidemic levels in Nevada.
He said he called the summit to get all stakeholders from law enforcement to treatment professionals and the courts together to get the problem under control.
According to statistics released at the summit, the rate of opioid prescribing by doctors to manage pain has steadily increased over the years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, opioid sales have quadrupled in the U.S. since 1999 despite the fact there has been no overall change in pain reported by people.
But, according to statistics released by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, the number of overdose deaths in the state has fallen every year since 2011 and abuse of prescription medicines by high school students is down over that same period.
Read more: www.nevadaappeal.com/news/22586967-113/sandoval-convenes-prescription-drug-abuse-summit#
He said he called the summit to get all stakeholders from law enforcement to treatment professionals and the courts together to get the problem under control.
According to statistics released at the summit, the rate of opioid prescribing by doctors to manage pain has steadily increased over the years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, opioid sales have quadrupled in the U.S. since 1999 despite the fact there has been no overall change in pain reported by people.
But, according to statistics released by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, the number of overdose deaths in the state has fallen every year since 2011 and abuse of prescription medicines by high school students is down over that same period.
Read more: www.nevadaappeal.com/news/22586967-113/sandoval-convenes-prescription-drug-abuse-summit#