States to Focus on Prescription Drug Regulation

More than 31 million Americans have used prescription drugs non-medically

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is working with state legislatures to cut down the rising numbers of prescription drug abusers.  National surveys show that the non-medical use of prescription drugs continues to rise in America.

The number of people who had used pain relievers non-medically at least once during their lifetime increased 5 percent from 2002 to 2003, totaling more than 31 million people.  Current non-medical use of pain relievers increased by 15 percent among young adults.

With the President's 2005 National Drug Control Strategy, there will be a greater focus to regulate prescription drugs in an effort to curb the rising abuse.  One of the main avenues is state-level prescription drug monitoring programs, which have taken a leading role in detecting and deterring the diversion of popular prescription controlled substances.  Prescription drug monitoring programs are currently in place or plan to be operational in 24 states this year.

"What many people forget," comments Gary W. Smith, Executive Director of Narconon Arrowhead, "Is that prescription drugs have the potential to be just as harmful as street drugs, and that most of today's illegal drugs were once marketed and sold as pharmaceuticals."

Narconon Arrowhead is one of the nation's largest and most successful drug rehabilitation programs and uses the effective drug-free rehabilitation methodology developed by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. 

According to the ONDCP, "Programs and efforts that do not reduce drug use must be restructured or eliminated, an effort to use taxpayer money wisely that this Administration takes seriously."

The President also seeks $80 million during fiscal year 2006 for Drug-Free Communities Support Programs.  There are about 5,000 community anti-drug coalitions in America right now, many of whom have done an excellent job at reducing drug use through help from all sectors of society, including health care, law enforcement, business, drug treatment, and education.

Whether coalitions seek to provide drug prevention programs and early intervention services to youth, rehabilitation programs to addicts and non-violent drug offenders or stop the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs, working together has proven to be successful.  And from the mouth of the Office of National Drug Control Policy the message is clear, only use programs that demonstrate results, otherwise find something else that does work.

For more information on the 2005 National Drug Control Strategy, visit www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov.  You can also read more about Anti-Drug Coalitions at www.cadca.org.

If you or someone you love needs help overcoming addiction, contact Narconon Arrowhead today at 1-800-468-6933 or log on to www.stopaddiction.com.

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