Painkiller Tramadol Should Be Contolled According To Experts

Abuse of the prescription painkiller tramadol is becoming more prevalent in the region; however, it currently does not appear on the controlled substances list. Experts are pushing to get tramadol on that list. In West Virginia, lawmakers were considering adding it to the list of prescription drugs monitored for misuse, but the proposal died in committees. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review online, "tramadol, an analgesic marketed under the trade name Ultram or Ultracet, is known on the street as 'chill pills' or 'ultras.' It can be addictive and produces a morphine-like high..." Most doctors assume it's safe, but the number of emergency room visits due to tramadol abuse shows that this drug is anything but that. In 2004 there were 4,952 visits and that number rose to 13,568 in 2008, according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network. The DEA is currently collecting information to determine if tramadol should be put on the federal drug controlled substances list. With pill or "pharm" parties becoming more of a trend amongst teenagers, the country is witnessing a huge increase in prescription drug abuse. If you have questions or concerns about tramadol abuse in your area, contact your local law enforcement agency or lawmakers.

Prescription Drug Abuse On The Rise In Rural Areas

Prescription drug abuse and fraud is at an all time high, and rural residents of West Virginia are becoming a target. The West Virginia University Health Sciences and News Service recently reported that the greatest increases of deaths from drug overdoses are in rural areas. Between 1999 and 2004, West Virginia saw the number of deaths related to drug overdoses rise 550 percent. This was the largest increase out of any state in the country. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services conducted a national survey on drug abuse and discovered that 2.1 million teenagers reported abusing prescription drugs in 2006 alone. In 2005 it was reported that 250,000 West Virginia residents had used some kind of prescribed substance for non-medical reasons. After successfully suing Purdue Pharma, West Virginia and several other states used the money received to create day report centers in order to provide prescription drug abusers with support and rehabilitation. A prescription drug abuse hotline was also set up. The hotline number is 1-866-WV-QUITT (1-866-987-8488).

Nine DUI Arrests Made This Past Weekend

A $6,000 grant from the West Virginia Highway Safety program has allowed Hancock County deputies to target drunk drivers and other traffic offenders. The program has already yielded favorable results in just its first week. To get the full story go to the Intelligencer Wheeling News Register online.

2010 WV Substance Abuse Legislation

The following is a list of substance abuse legislation bills that did and did not pass during West Virginia's 2010 legislative session. For more information on any of these bills visit the West Virginia Legislature's website.

Passed:
HB 2773 - Increases the penalties for access and usage of tobacco products by minors

SB 362 - Prohibits providing false information to obtain a controlled substances prescription

SB 81 - WV Official Prescription Program Act providing prescriptions be written on tamper proof pads

SB 365 - Requires pharmacies to provide their personnel with online access to the state controlled substances database

SB 514 - Clarifies certain language in the Controlled Substances Monitoring Act

HB 4167 - Procedures for revocation and suspension of driver license for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs

SB 186 - Creating Administrative Law Judge Office in DOT responsible for oversight of administrative license revocation hearings

HB 4018 - Making illegal possession of a mixture or preparation containing salvia divinorum intended for human consumption

Did Not Pass:
HB 466 - Establishing grant funding program DHHR for substance abuse prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery

Beer Tax Bills - Various measures attempting to place an additional tax on a barrel of beer with proceeds directed at funding of substance abuse efforts

Intervention Puts Son Back on Track

At the age of 14 Joe started smoking marijuana. He then moved on to substances such as oxycodone and heroin. Six years later Joe no longer partakes in his old habits, all because his parents stepped in. Read the full story of how Joe's parents helped change their son's life at The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review online. If you're having trouble talking to your children about drugs and alcohol be sure to check out the Marshall County Family Resource Network's Parent Toolkit. There you will find safe teen party tips, text translations, and more.

Inhalants Abuse On the Rise Among Pre-Teens

Recent data released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that 12 year olds are beginning to turn toward potentially lethal inhalants rather than marijuana, cocaine, and hallucinogens. According to a SAMHSA news release, "SAMHSA data from the 2006-2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health show a rate of lifetime inhalant use among 12 year olds of 6.9 percent, compared to a rate of 5.1 percent for nonmedical use of prescription type drugs; a rate of 1.4 percent for marijuana; a rate of 0.7 percent for use of hallucinogens; and a 0.1 rate for cocaine use." Common inhalants are found in everyday products such as glue, hair spray, spray paint, nail polish remover, and correction fluid. This study was released to kick off the 18th annual National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week which begins today and ends on March 21st. More information on this topic can be found at the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition's website or through the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Drug Bills Passed

After being passed through the Senate last week, Senate Bills 365 and 81 went up against the House of Delegates yesterday and were accepted by a 97-0 vote with three absences. These bills will attempt to control prescription drug fraud and abuse. Senate Bill 365 will allow pharmacists to access the West Virginia Controlled Substance Monitoring Database. The House amended Senate Bill 81, requiring that any paper used for writing prescriptions must be tamper-resistant. Through these bills the state is estimated to save between 10 and 25 million dollars annually. Six other pieces of legislation were introduced by Senators Evan Jenkins and Ron Stollings. All were aimed at prescription drug abuse. Three of those six are still alive.

Senate Clears Bill Aimed at Prescription Drug Abuse

Senate Bill 365 was cleared Tuesday by the West Virginia Senate. This bill would require "all retail pharmacies to provide their personnel online access to the West Virginia Controlled Substance Monitoring Program." This means that all doctors and pharmacists in the state would have access to The West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Database. This database is able to track prescribed controlled substances. While the bill does not solve drug abuse entirely, Senators Evan Jenkins and Ron Stollings believe it is a start in the right direction. Senate Bill 365 is among eight pieces of legislation concerning drug abuse that have been introduced during this session. Three of these bills have already passed through the Senate and two more are up for a vote today. Senate bill 514 is one of these bills. It would require physicians to report controlled substances whenever they are prescribed. Prescribing medications electronically would fix the problem; however, federal law prohibits controlled substances from being prescribed electronically.

Alcohol and Drug Use Among Teens Rises

A study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation found that more teens are abusing drugs and alcohol than ever before. The study which was released today discovered that "the number of teens in grades 9-12 that used alcohol in the past month has grown by 11 percent, (from 35 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2009), past year Ecstasy use shows a 67 percent increase (from 6 percent in 2008 to 10 percent in 2009) and past year marijuana use shows a 19 percent increase (from 32 percent in 2008 to 38 percent in 2009)" (www.prnewswire.com). The idea of these habits being acceptable has contributed to the increase. Parents should take action immediately if they suspect that their child is using drugs or alcohol. Visit the Marshall County Family Resource Network's website to find links about substance abuse and how you can talk to your children about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.