President Obama Encourages Participation in Take Back Day
President Obama made a plea to Americans to fight the growing problem of prescription drug abuse on Thursday, a day when you can get rid of your unwanted unneeded or expired medications for proper disposal by turning them in to local police stations.
“More Americans die from drug overdoses then car crashes every year due to prescription drugs,” Obama said.
In his statement, President Obama also addressed the connection between prescription drug abuse and heroin by saying that 4 in 5 people who use heroin started by abusing prescription drugs first.
“These young Americans are getting these drugs from medicine cabinets not dark alleyways, Obama said.
President Obama tackled the issue in 2011 when he launched his “Prescription Drug Abuse Plan.” This action plan focused on the problem of prescription opioid abuse. It highlighted the fact that from 1997 to 2007, the milligram per person use of prescription opioids in the U.S. increased from 74 milligrams to 369 milligrams, an increase of 402 percent.
This plan also included action in education, monitoring, proper disposal and enforcement in order to combat the increase of prescription drug abuse.
Obama said that that too many families and too many communities are being affected by this abuse, highlighting the importance of readdressing this problem.
“It is a challenge we can solve, if we work together,” said Obama.