Senate Designates October National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month
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October 7, 2011
The U.S. Senate has adopted a resolution designating the month of October 2011 as “National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month” to raise attention to the problem of prescription medicine abuse. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that there were 2.4 million new users of the nonmedical use of prescription drugs in 2010. The study also found that the abuse of prescription drugs is second only to marijuana, the number one illegal drug of abuse in the United States.
To help anti-drug coalitions around the nation address medicine abuse in their communities, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has developed a number of tools, including the Rx Abuse Prevention Toolkit: From Awareness to Action. In addition, CADCA and longtime partner Consumer Healthcare Products Association have launched a campaign to raise awareness and encourage community organizations to hold educational events in October.