Events Focus on Prescription Drug Abuse in the Hudson Valley

Read a special Poughkeepsie Journal investigative report on prescription drug abuse in NY state HERE

From the report

Compare this, say reform advocates, to the enormity of the public health crisis driven by prescription drugs. In New York, 8,197 people died from drug overdoses in the most recent five-year period for which data is available, through 2011. If national trends hold, about half of those deaths should be attributed to prescription drugs, mainly painkillers, and 10 percent more to heroin, to which studies show painkiller addicts turn when supplies are tight.

Prescription drug abuse has become a major problem in New York state and now two events plan to shed some light on the issue. The first event is a community forum at Poughkeepsie High School which is scheduled for this Thursday, from 6 to 9pm.

From the Poughkeepsie Journal 

On the agenda is discussion about prevention and treatment, with a focus on opiates, heroin and hallucinogens. Representatives from the county Health and Mental Hygiene departments, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and the Council of Addiction Prevention and Education are set to attend.

The second event is scheduled for September 27 at Mesier Park in Wappingers Falls, as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Here the public is encouraged to get rid of all unwanted, unused or expired drugs  Read more about the DEA's initiative for drug disposal at the Poughkeepsie Journal's website HERE