Monday, April 23, 2012

DEA Officials to Hold Media Briefing on Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic


Washington, D.C.) – DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart will join Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) for a media briefing on Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 to release a new data analysis revealing the source of abused prescription drugs in America and urge Americans to take advantage of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s upcoming National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28th.

Administrator Leonhart and Director Kerlikowske will be joined by Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Dr. Ileana Arias, Principal Deputy Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Administration officials will also discuss significant progress being made to combat the Nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic one year after the release of the Obama Administration’s comprehensive action plan to address the threat. 

The CDC has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. Poisoning deaths, primarily driven by drug overdoses, are the leading cause of injury death in the United States. In 2009, deaths from drug overdoses outnumbered deaths from motor vehicle traffic crashes for the first time. 
 
Who:
Michele Leonhart, Administrator, DEA
Gil Kerlikowske, Director, ONDCP 
Dr. Ileana Arias, Principal Deputy Director, CDC
Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner, FDA 
     
What:             Pen and Pad Media Briefing on New Prescription Drug Abuse Data
Call in number available upon request
News media must RSVP to MediaInquiry@ondcp.eop.gov
Television and radio interviews available upon request
 
When:             Wednesday April 25th, 10:00 a.m. EDT
           
Where:           Office of National Drug Control Policy
750 17th Street NW - 8th Floor Conference Room    
Washington DC, 20006
 
For more information about the Office of National Drug Control Policy, visit Whitehouse.gov/ONDCP

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