Tuesday Vision Session: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Examining Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse from Federal and National Perspectives

1. Examining Prescription Drug Misuse
and Abuse from the Federal
Perspective
Frances M. Harding
Director
SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
National Rx Drug Abuse Summit
April 22, 2014
Atlanta, Georgia

2. SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative #1:
Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness
Top Priorities
• Prevent substance abuse and improve well-
being in states, territories, tribes
• Establish prevention of underage drinking as a
priority issue for states, territories, tribal
entities, colleges and universities, and
communities.
• Increase public knowledge of the warning signs
for suicide and actions to take in response.
• Reduce prescription drug misuse and abuse.

3. Prescription Drug Abuse Affects Everyone
• Prescription medications are among the
top substances abused by 12th graders in
the past year.
• In 2011, more than 4,500 young people
per day abused a prescription drug for the
first time.
• All ages are affected.
• Older Americans
• 2009: approximately 1 U.S. infant
born per hour with signs of drug
withdrawal.
• 55 to 94 percent of neonates exposed
to opioids in utero experience
withdrawal .

4. Most Patients Do Not Take
Prescription Drugs as Prescribed
40%
25%
15%
20%
Urine Test Results
Prescribed drug only
Not using prescription
Other drugs
Prescription + other drugs

5. “ … lukewarm support among parents for
some policies that would discourage
the abuse of narcotic pain medicines.
Only 41 percent of parents said they
favor a policy that would require a
doctor's visit to obtain a refill on
these medicines, and about half do not
favor a requirement that unused pain
medicine be returned to a doctor or
pharmacy.”

6. National Prescription Drug Abuse
Prevention Strategy
• Prescriber and consumer
education/awareness.
– More than half, 54 percent, of
people 12 and older using
prescription pain relievers
non-medically got them from
a friend or relative for free.
• Expanded and enhanced use
of prescription drug
monitoring programs.
• Education/awareness about
safe disposal of unused
medicines.

7. SAMHSA’s Efforts to Prevent
Prescription Drug Abuse
• Prescription Drug Monitoring
Program grants
• Federal Drug-Free Workplace
Program
• Promotion of the DEA’s National
Take-Back Day (April 26, 2014)
• Not Worth the Risk, Even If It’s
Legal
• Prescriber Education

8. Date National Prevention Week 2014 Themes
Sunday, May 18 Prevention and Cessation of Tobacco Use
Monday, May 19 Prevention of Underage Drinking
Tuesday, May 20 Prevention of Prescription Drug Abuse and Marijuana Use
Wednesday, May 21 Prevention of Alcohol Use
Thursday, May 22 Prevention of Suicide
Friday, May 23 Promotion of Mental Health

9. Collaboration: Foundation for Success
Center for Substance Abuse
Prevention
Center for Mental Health Services
Center for Substance Abuse
Treatment
Center for Behavioral Health
Statistics and Quality
http://www.samhsa.gov