This document presents the findings from a survey of the membership of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors regarding prescription drugs and heroin abuse.
Key findings from a survey of the membership of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors include the following: State substance abuse agencies (SSAs) consider both prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse to be very important issues; a majority of States have seen an increase in treatment admissions for heroin in the last 2 years, and recent State efforts include expanding medication-assisted treatment and access to naloxone/overdose prevention; and State efforts to counter prescription drug abuse include enacting legislation and convening task forces. The slide presentation also contains information on Federal agency actions and influences regarding prescription drug abuse, background data on the problem of prescription drug abuse and heroin, data on drug overdoses and drug poisoning deaths, sources of prescription drugs, and trends in emergency department visits involving heroin. Information is also provided on the importance of prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse to SSAs, how SSAs address the prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse issue, and efforts to educate the general public on the problem of prescription drug abuse and heroin abuse. The presentation also highlights efforts by States to combat these two very important problems. Figures, charts, list of public resources, and references