This document summarizes a presentation on prescription drug abuse given at a conference. It discusses national overdose statistics showing a large increase in overdose deaths. Common factors contributing to overdoses are mixing multiple drugs and reduced drug tolerance after being released from institutions. The presentation outlines a comprehensive response including law enforcement reviewing overdose deaths for criminal leads, public awareness campaigns, and quantitative research analyzing overdose cases. Research of 353 overdose cases found the typical profile is a middle-aged white male with a history of substance abuse issues. The most common circumstances involved dying at home from accidental overdoses combining drugs like oxycodone and alprazolam.
Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.
Gary Martin2
1. What Parents
Can Do
April 10-12, 2012
Walt Disney World Swan Resort
2. Accepted Learning Objectives
1. Compare mixed-method studies that focus on
behavioral factors related to drug use and
abuse, especially among youth and
adolescents.
2. Outline proven comprehensive strategies for
combating prescription drug abuse through the
development of community partnerships.
3. Express the impact of prescription drug abuse
on families and communities through anecdotal
personal stories.
3. Disclosure Statement
All presenters for this session, Dr. Carol J.
Boyd, Dr. Gary Martin, and Karen Perry,
have disclosed no relevant, real or
apparent personal or professional
financial relationships.
4. The
Killer
Amongst
Us…
Drug
Overdose
Dr.
Gary
Mar<n
Palm
Beach
County
Sheriff s
Office/Lynn
University
5. Na<onal
Overdose
Sta<s<cs
27,658
uninten-onal
drug
poisonings
100%
increase
in
overdose
deaths
from
years
2000-‐2006
Drug
overdose
deaths
second
to
car
accidents
for
uninten-onal
injury
deaths
14. High
Risk
Drugs
Opiate
Pain
Medica-ons
Depressants/seda-ves
Illicit
drugs
including
alcohol
15. Tolerance
Depleted
Recently
released
prisoners
Recently
released
from
court
supervision
Recently
released
from
drug
treatment
Recently
released
from
hospital
17. Three
Strategies
Law
Enforcement
Public
Awareness
Quan<ta<ve
Research
18. Law
Enforcement
Reviewing
each
overdose
death
inves-ga-on.
Applying
all
relevant
statutes
to
the
circumstances.
Forwarding
all
narco-cs
intelligence.
19.3
%
of
the
case
reviews
generated
narco-cs
intelligence.
19. Public
Awareness
Forging
coopera-ve
rela-onships
with
families
who
have
lost
loved
ones
to
drug
overdose
death.
Providing
overdose
risk
awareness
programs
to
students
and
parents.
Designing
a
mul-media
public
service
campaign
focusing
on
the
risks
associated
with
prescrip-on
drug
misuse
and
abuse.
Seeking
legisla-ve
ac-on
to
discourage
doctor
shopping
and
prescrip-on
drug
diversion.
20. 911
Good
Samaritan
Legisla<on
A
Drug
Overdose
Interven-on
Strategy.
Offers-‐limited
immunity
from
criminal
prosecu-on
for
person(s)
who,
in
good
faith,
seek
medical
aWen-on
during
a
drug-‐related
medical
crisis.
Intent-‐reduce
the
number
of
drug
overdose
deaths
by
removing
the
fear
of
arrest
as
a
barrier
to
seeking
emergency
medical
assistance.
21. Quan<ta<ve
Research
Collec-ng
extensive
demographic
and
circumstan-al
data
from
each
overdose
death
inves-ga-on.
Designing
a
prac-cal
overdose
death
database.
Exposing
overdose
correla-ons
and
trends.
22. Case
Examina<ons
353
overdose
death
cases
Palm
Beach
County,
Florida
Selected
by
chronological
occurrence
Data
derived
from:
Police
and
paramedic
reports
Autopsy
and
toxicology
findings
Family
and
friend
interviews
Medical
records
32. Overdose
Risk
Profile
Demographic
Indicators:
White
Male
Approximately
40
years
old
High
School
Diploma
or
GED
Employed
33. Overdose
Risk
Profile
Sta<c
Indicators:
History
of
substance
abuse
History
of
drug
related
arrests
History
of
substance
abuse
treatment
History
of
mental
health
treatment
History
of
non
fatal
drug
overdose
Under
physician s
care
at
-me
of
death
34. Overdose
Risk
Profile
Circumstan<al
Indicators:
Died
at
home
Discovered
by
family
member
Last
act
is
sleeping
Found
unconscious
Others
present
at
death
scene
Other
recognized
distress
Died
from
accidental
mul-ple
drug
toxicity
Most
likely
combina-ons
are
alprazolam,
oxycodone,
cocaine,
and
methadone
35. NOPE
Task
Force
866-‐612-‐NOPE
Ask
Adam
(Ask
Ques<ons
Anonymously)
www.nopetaskforce.org
Dr.
Gary
Mar<n
Mar<nG@pbso.org