Prescription Drug Abuse 'Epidemic' Explored at Summit
Local experts and law enforcement officials hosted a drug summit at Canon-McMillan High School Thursday.
The statistics are alarming. Prescription drugs now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined. In 2009, drugs exceeded traffic accidents as the number one cause of death in the United States—killing 37,000 a year. In Washington County there were two overdose deaths in 1992. In 2011, there were 55. And what’s more: Studies indicate that 41 percent of teens think prescription drugs are “safer” than street drugs. That’s why Canonsburg Mayor David H. Rhome, school officials, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, Washington County Coroner Tim Warco and drug treatment specialists and others converged at Canon-McMillan High School Thursday: To tell students there that prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic not only…
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Amanda Gillooly
2:17 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Definitely, Mayor! Thanks so much for all your time and help for this story!! more ›