EDIT: The internet is back! Whoo! I can finally submit this.
The article refers to the final day of the conference about Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, named the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit. Congressman Hal Rogers (R-Kentucky) called for more prescriber education about the drugs, as well as improved monitoring programs that allow states to better share information about patients and ensure a more watchful eye is kept on prescribed drugs. These ideas are laid out nicely in the Rx Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, the FDA Accountability for Public Safety Act, and the Protecting Our Infants Act. Rogers also praised the innovation in abuse deterrent drugs, stating that “it sends a strong message to [the drug] industry”. There was a call to increased access to treatment options for those who face addiction, with Patrick Kennedy, a sponsor of the Mental Health Parity and Equity Act of 2008, stating “’We’ve got to begin treating the brain like we do the rest of the body’”. Finally, there was a push of unequivocal opposition to legalizing marijuana, with many stating the dangers and that it “is pretty clearly a gateway drug”. Overall, the article paints a clear picture of the dangers of drug abuse, as addressed in the convention, and brings up methods of dealing with these by addressing key bills that could help with the problem.
-Luke Fanning
"Voices from the Rx Drug Abuse Summit." Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 13 Apr. 2015. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.