Like the rest of the nation, New York State is in the midst of a public health crisis: prescription drug abuse. There are more prescription drugs on our streets and in our homes than ever before. The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released data showing only marijuana is abused with more frequency than prescription narcotics and more Americans die of prescription drug overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined.

New York is experiencing the sudden and unprecedented fallout from prescription drug abuse, including a record number of overdoses, suicides, new addictions, and armed pharmacy robberies resulting in casualties.  Understanding all aspects of the problem is the only path to the solutions. For this reason, the New York State Senate adopted a resolution declaring April 28, 2012 “Prescription Drug Take-Back Day,” the Senate Health Committee held two roundtables, and the Committee issued this white paper.

Please click the links below to access the full report:

http://www.nysenate.gov/report/prescription-drug-crisis-new-york-state-comprehensive-approach

or

http://www.scribd.com/embeds/82474334/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll