Prescription Drug

People addicted to prescription painkillers reduce their opioid abuse when given sustained treatment with the medication buprenorphine plus naloxone (Suboxone), according to research published in yesterday’s Archives of General Psychiatry and conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study, which was the first randomized large scale clinical trial using a medication for the treatment of prescription opioid abuse, also showed that the addition of intensive opioid dependence counseling provided no added benefit.

On Tuesday, the new Congressional Youth Drug Prevention Caucus, led by Congressman Sandy Levin (I-Mich.) and Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) held its very first briefing on the Drug Free Communities (DFC) Program. The panel included CADCA's Chairman and CEO, Gen. Arthur T. Dean, Benjamin Tucker of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Hilarie Chambers of Congressman Sandy Levin's office, Greg Puckett, Executive Director of Community Connections, Inc., and Sue Thau, CADCA's Public Policy Consultant.

The death toll from overdoses of prescription painkillers has more than tripled in the past decade, according to an analysis in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vital Signs report released this week. This new finding shows that more than 40 people die every day from overdoses involving narcotic pain relievers like hydrocodone (Vicodin), methadone, oxycodone (OxyContin), and oxymorphone (Opana). The death rate was highest among persons aged 35–54 years.

Coalitions across the country have another opportunity to contribute to the fight against prescription drug abuse by participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is partnering with national, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, as well as community coalition groups, to hold a third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Oct. 29.

CADCA and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), which represents the leading makers of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, have joined forces to honor their annual National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of youth prescription and OTC medicine abuse.

Last week, the United States Senate by unanimous consent passed a Resolution designating October 2011 as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month" (NMAAM). The bill is sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senators Blumenthal (D-CT), Casey (D-PA), Durbin (D-IL), Manchin (D-WV), Portman (R-OH), Rockefeller (D-WV) and Whitehouse (D-RI) co-sponsored the Resolution.

Did you know that one in 10 youth ages 12 through 17 has abused cough medicine to get high from its dextromethorphan ingredient, and one in 5 young adults has abused a prescription drug? Help raise awareness of the dangers of medicine abuse by participating in the CADCA 50 Challenge. By registering for the Challenge, you’re automatically entered in a drawing for a free iPad.

Earlier this week, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced S. Res. 261, a resolution designating October 2011 as "National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month” (NMAAM). Senators Feinstein and Grassley stated that the NMAAM “is an opportunity for Americans to reaffirm our national, state and local level commitment to living healthy, drug-free lifestyles.” Senators Blumenthal (D-CT), Casey (D-PA), Durbin (D-IL), Manchin (D-WV), Portman (R-OH), Rockefeller (D-WV) and Whitehouse (D-RI) also co-sponsored the Resolution.

Did you know that one in 10 youth ages 12 through 17 has abused cough medicine to get high from its dextromethorphan ingredient, and one in 5 young adults has abused a prescription drug? Help raise awareness of the dangers of medicine abuse by participating in the CADCA 50 Challenge. By registering for the Challenge, you’re automatically entered in a drawing for a free iPad.

Did you know that one in 10 youth ages 12 through 17 has abused cough medicine to get high from its dextromethorphan ingredient, and one in 5 young adults has abused a prescription drug? Help raise awareness of the dangers of medicine abuse by participating in the CADCA 50 Challenge. By registering for the Challenge, you’re automatically entered in a drawing for a free iPad.