Summits to Focus on Drug Abuse
Commentary By DEWEY F. BARTLETT JR.
Mayor, City of Tulsa
Last October, Police Chief Chuck Jordan and I accepted an invitation from Commissioner Terri White with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to meet with the Oklahoma Overdose Prevention Committee. We realized our state had a problem, but we didn’t realize that more people died last year from prescription drug overdose deaths than car crashes.
Prescription drug abuse not only affects the lives of individuals, it affects the health and well being of their families, often leading to crime and poverty. Young people abusing prescription drugs ruins healthy development and their ability to succeed. Employees who abuse prescription drugs contribute to poor work performance, injuries, absenteeism and lack of productivity.
Chief Jordan and I also learned from last year’s meeting that prescription drug abuse is not just a Tulsa issue; it is an Oklahoma issue.
According to the Center for Disease Control, Oklahoma ties for fourth in the nation for the highest rates of prescribed hydrocodone, oxycodone and other powerful painkillers at 128 prescriptions for every 100 citizens. Per capita, Oklahoma is one of the leading states in prescription painkiller sales and had the highest prevalence of prescription painkiller abuse for the population, ages 12 and older. Combating prescription drug abuse must become a top public health priority.
During my second inaugural address, I committed to hosting a series of public safety summits during my next term of office. Our first summit will be held in October at OU-Tulsa and will focus on prescription drug abuse. My staff has been working with Commissioner White to put together a meaningful summit. Our goal is to create a community-based action plan in order to combat prescription drug abuse.
We have invited community leaders, the business sector, healthcare providers, parents and schools to lead successful efforts to reduce the number of drug-related overdose deaths, prevent abuse and diversion, and better assist those seeking to end their addiction to prescription drugs.
Our goal is to build a coalition to combat prescription drug abuse in order promote a safer, stronger Tulsa. The Tulsa Police Department has newly-issued Narcan and first aid medical kits that have saved 19 lives in the past 14 months.
If someone you know overdoses from prescription drugs, call 911 immediately. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, prescription drugs or otherwise, I urge you to call 211 in order to get help.
Updated 10-22-2014
Back to Top
READER COMMENTS
Back to Top
Contact GTR News
