Pubdate: Sat, 29 Oct 2005
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2005 News-Journal Corporation
Contact:  http://www.news-journalonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700
Author: Deborah Circelli
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

DRUG CZAR: PRESCRIPTION PILLS KILLING US

DAYTONA BEACH -- Every day, six people die in Florida from lethal
doses of prescription drugs, the state's drug czar said Friday.

Jim McDonough, director of the Florida Office of Drug Control, told
about 100 people at a 2005 Red Ribbon luncheon at Daytona Beach
Community College that improper use of prescription drugs, primarily
pain pills, is the main drug problem the state is facing.

He said prescription-drug death rates now exceed the combined total of
heroine and cocaine deaths.

"The addict finds a more attractive high off prescription drugs, but
he's also getting a more fatal high," McDonough said prior to the luncheon.

The issue is so urgent, he said, his office will push again next
spring for legislation that would put a computer network system in
place for doctors and pharmacists to see what prescription drugs
people are already receiving when they come in for a prescription. The
system would prevent people from going to multiple doctors and
pharmacies to get multiple prescriptions.

Similar systems are in place in two dozen other states, he said. The
program would cost about $3 million and primarily be paid for through
federal dollars, he said.

Meanwhile, Stewart-Marchman Center for Chemical Independence in the
past month has launched a new program, Right Turn, to help those with
prescription-drug abuse. The program, which provides outpatient
treatment, has included more than 20 people.

Ernest Cantley, president of Stewart-Marchman, said Stewart-Marchman
staffers are seeing higher-income people who became addicted after
dealing with neck and back pain and migraine headaches.

McDonough told the crowd the state is making progress in overall drug
use compared to seven years ago, pointing to a recent youth survey
where 18 of 21 categories have decreased. But students in grades six
through 12 reported an increase in depressant use, such as
over-the-counter cough medicine.

He said it could be a forewarning of a heavier move into prescription
use, similar to adults'.

Overall, he said, youth have changed their behavior about smoking
cigarettes and marijuana, but work is still needed on alcohol use.

"We are seeing usage rates go down, but we still have a long way to
go," McDonough said.

Statistics by the Daytona Beach Police Department show an increase in
people being arrested on any type of narcotics charge. There were
1,920 arrests in 2004, compared to 1,368 in 2003 and 1,613 in 2001,
according to the department. The first six months of this year show
906 arrests.

Jeff Anderson, 50, who attended the luncheon along with other clients
from Stewart-Marchman's adult and youth treatment programs, said he
was resentful at first when his family sought a court order for
alcohol abuse treatment last month.

But as he prepared to graduate from the program later Friday, he said
he realized he needed the help.

"I know I can't go back to that life," Anderson said. "I was too close
to death too many times."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin