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Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2003
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President Bush called on Congress today to pass legislation that would restrict online sales of powerfully addictive prescription drugs, citing a growing number of overdoses.
Bush referred to San Diego teenager Ryan Haight as he unveiled the 2008 national drug control strategy in his weekly radio address. Haight overdosed on painkillers he bought on the Internet, prompting Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to introduce the bill that Bush championed today.
The president said his national drug policy had reduced youth drug consumption by 24% since 2001. That progress has been counterbalanced by the growing problem of prescription drug abuse.
"Unfortunately, many young Americans do not understand how dangerous abusing medication can be," Bush said. "In recent years, the number of Americans who have died from prescription drug overdoses has increased."
John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said prescription drugs were the top choice for 12- and 13-year olds. He said some estimates had 2,500 young people starting to use such drugs every day.
Walters added that 70% of young people obtained the drugs for free from family or friends, usually out of a medicine cabinet. The administration will encourage parents to safeguard their drugs, particularly painkillers; discard any leftover pharmaceuticals; and talk to their teenagers.
Walters stressed that the administration effort was not directed at older Americans who order cheaper drugs online from Canada or other overseas suppliers. "What we're concerned about is the diversion, for the purposes of abuse, of controlled substances, principally painkillers," he said.
Current drug strategy incorporates education and prevention, including nonpunitive random drug tests at schools. It also includes treatment options for addicts and enforcement to disrupt supply.
Walters praised Mexico and Colombia for their help in targeting traffickers and said they had disrupted the cocaine and methamphetamines supply to the U.S.
But Walters singled out Venezuela for failing to cooperate on drug control efforts. "We stand ready to work" with Venezuela, Walters said. But he added that many Venezuelan drug flights appeared to leave from controlled airstrips "where authorities could take control, but that hasn't been done."
He noted that drug traffic appeared to be going increasingly to Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. "It's a huge danger and a growing danger to Venezuela, to Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S.," Walters said.
Bush estimated that 860,000 fewer young Americans were using drugs today than in 2002, when the administration launched its anti-drug efforts. He said marijuana use was down 25%, Ecstasy use dropped by more than 50% and methamphetamine consumption dipped 64%.
Haight, a high school honors student and athlete, was 18 when he died in 2001 of an overdose of the painkiller hydrocodone. He bought the drug online using a debit card his parents had given him to buy baseball cards.
At the pharmacy website he filled out a questionnaire identifying himself as a 25-year-old with chronic back pain. The prescribing doctor never met or examined Haight.
Feinstein's bill would require a doctor to conduct an in-person examination before a prescription could be considered valid. It has been endorsed by Major League Baseball as a way to crack down on the sale of steroids over the Internet.
The bill has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits consideration by the full Senate.
Bush urges new rules on online sales of addictive prescription drugs
March 1, 2007
LA Times
Link
Bush referred to San Diego teenager Ryan Haight as he unveiled the 2008 national drug control strategy in his weekly radio address. Haight overdosed on painkillers he bought on the Internet, prompting Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to introduce the bill that Bush championed today.
The president said his national drug policy had reduced youth drug consumption by 24% since 2001. That progress has been counterbalanced by the growing problem of prescription drug abuse.
"Unfortunately, many young Americans do not understand how dangerous abusing medication can be," Bush said. "In recent years, the number of Americans who have died from prescription drug overdoses has increased."
John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said prescription drugs were the top choice for 12- and 13-year olds. He said some estimates had 2,500 young people starting to use such drugs every day.
Walters added that 70% of young people obtained the drugs for free from family or friends, usually out of a medicine cabinet. The administration will encourage parents to safeguard their drugs, particularly painkillers; discard any leftover pharmaceuticals; and talk to their teenagers.
Walters stressed that the administration effort was not directed at older Americans who order cheaper drugs online from Canada or other overseas suppliers. "What we're concerned about is the diversion, for the purposes of abuse, of controlled substances, principally painkillers," he said.
Current drug strategy incorporates education and prevention, including nonpunitive random drug tests at schools. It also includes treatment options for addicts and enforcement to disrupt supply.
Walters praised Mexico and Colombia for their help in targeting traffickers and said they had disrupted the cocaine and methamphetamines supply to the U.S.
But Walters singled out Venezuela for failing to cooperate on drug control efforts. "We stand ready to work" with Venezuela, Walters said. But he added that many Venezuelan drug flights appeared to leave from controlled airstrips "where authorities could take control, but that hasn't been done."
He noted that drug traffic appeared to be going increasingly to Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. "It's a huge danger and a growing danger to Venezuela, to Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S.," Walters said.
Bush estimated that 860,000 fewer young Americans were using drugs today than in 2002, when the administration launched its anti-drug efforts. He said marijuana use was down 25%, Ecstasy use dropped by more than 50% and methamphetamine consumption dipped 64%.
Haight, a high school honors student and athlete, was 18 when he died in 2001 of an overdose of the painkiller hydrocodone. He bought the drug online using a debit card his parents had given him to buy baseball cards.
At the pharmacy website he filled out a questionnaire identifying himself as a 25-year-old with chronic back pain. The prescribing doctor never met or examined Haight.
Feinstein's bill would require a doctor to conduct an in-person examination before a prescription could be considered valid. It has been endorsed by Major League Baseball as a way to crack down on the sale of steroids over the Internet.
The bill has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits consideration by the full Senate.
Bush urges new rules on online sales of addictive prescription drugs
March 1, 2007
LA Times
Link
