Drug Overdose Is a National Crisis: It's Time to Act

Unfolding before our eyes is a national public health crisis: fatal drug overdose has increased more than six-fold in the past three decades. Today, more Americans are dying of drug overdoses than traffic accidents, primarily from heroin and prescription pills like oxycodone and Vicodin. Every single day, 120 people die in the U.S. of a drug overdose. My son died at the age of 25 after battling the disease of addiction for nearly a decade. Today, there are more than 22 million Americans who are fighting drug addiction and millions more who are affected by seeing this disease tear down a loved one. The debilitating disease of addiction deserves attention from the highest levels of our government -- as well as action. And to its credit, the Obama Administration has taken note. Over the past few weeks, several developments have indicated profound support from President Obama's administration to tackle the escalating epidemic of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. While the increased federal attention is new, the problem of drug overdose deaths -- especially from heroin and prescription pills -- is no recent phenomena. It has been silently but swiftly escalating in communities across the United States. Last week, the Senate confirmed Michael Botticelli as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. This demonstrates the Senate's realization that our nation needs a full-time, fully functioning drug czar. I have tremendous respect for Director Botticelli and I ve...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news