CDC - Grand Rounds: Prescription Drug Overdoses: An American Epidemic

We invite you to join us for our next session of CDC’s Public Health Grand Rounds, entitled Prescription Drug Overdoses: An American Epidemic, which will be webcast live from CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, February 17 at 1 p.m. (EST) at www.cdc.gov/about/grand-rounds, with an archived video being made available on February 21. These sessions are now available for Continuing Education (CE/CME) credits (*). The United States is in the grip of an epidemic of prescription drug overdoses. Over 27,000 people died from overdoses in 2007, a number that has risen five-fold since 1990 and has never been higher. Prescription drugs are now involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.

This disturbing mortality trend parallels a ten-fold increase in the medical use of opioid painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone. The increased availability of such powerful drugs has led to widespread abuse - according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 5 million Americans abused opioid painkillers in the past month. In addition to the threat of overdose, these people face an elevated risk of injury, crime-related violence, and suicide.

For health professionals, policymakers and legislators, addressing this problem is complicated—while they push for education, prevention, and enforcement to reverse this epidemic, they must also ensure that patients with a legitimate need for these medications still have access to them. This important session of Public Health Grand Rounds will address these challenges and explore the innovative state and federal policies and interventions that are showing promise in reducing injury and death from this epidemic.

Prescription Drug Overdoses: An American Epidemic
Thursday, February 17, 2011
1 – 2 p.m. E.S.T.

Watch the live broadcast at:
http://cdc.wl.miisolutions.net/live/cdc/6

For slower or dial-up connections:
http://cdc.wl.miisolutions.net/live/cdc/7

NOTE: presention will be archived 48 hours following the live event

The United States is in the grip of an epidemic of prescription drug overdoses. Over 27,000 people died from overdoses in 2007, a number that has risen five-fold since 1990 and has never been higher. Prescription drugs are now involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.

This disturbing mortality trend parallels a ten-fold increase in the medical use of opioid painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone. The increased availability of such powerful drugs has led to widespread abuse - according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 5 million Americans abused opioid painkillers in the past month. In addition to the threat of overdose, these people face an elevated risk of injury, crime-related violence, and suicide.

For health professionals, policymakers and legislators, addressing this problem is complicated—while they push for education, prevention, and enforcement to reverse this epidemic, they must also ensure that patients with a legitimate need for these medications still have access to them. This important session of Public Health Grand Rounds will address these challenges and explore the innovative state and federal policies and interventions that are showing promise in reducing injury and death from this epidemic.

Presented by:

Grant Baldwin, PhD, MPH

Director, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC
Presentation: Why Are Drug Overdoses a Public Health Problem?

Len Paulozzi, MD, MPH

Medical Epidemiologist, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC
Presentation: Rationale for Prevention Strategies

Gary Franklin, MD, MPH

Medical Director
Washington State Agency Medical Directors’ Group
Presentation: Washington State Opioid Guidelines and Regulations

Gil Kerlikowske, MA

Director
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Presentation: National Policy Approaches to the Problem

Facilitated by:

Tanja Popovic, MD, PhD, Scientific Director, Public Health Grand Rounds

Shane Joiner, Communication Manager, Public Health Grand Rounds

full-text:
CDC - Grand Rounds