Health News
Representing a united front, policymakers from both sides of the political aisle, law enforcement, medical officials and other leaders stood by Gov. Steve Beshear Monday in support of attacking the state's prescription drug abuse problem head-on with legislation. (Courier-Journal photo by Tyler Bissmeyer)
- Beshear Oks Prescription Bill, Telling Pill Mills, 'get Out Of This State'
Saying it couldn't get to his desk quickly enough, Gov. Steve Beshear signed a bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse in celebration today, warning so-called pill mills to "Get out of this state, because we're coming after you." House Bill...
- Senate Panel And House Ok Bills To Tackle Prescription-bill Abuse
Two bills aimed at attacking the state's prescription drug abuse problem made headway yesterday, with a major difference between the House and Senate measures, reflecting possible turf battles between state agencies and doctors' desire to maintain...
- Lawmakers Hear Testimony About State's Pill Mill Problem, Discuss Whether To Put All Prescription-drug Issues Into One Bill
With a raid on a pain clinic in Paintsville making headlines yesterday morning, state legislators heard from community leaders and officials telling them to pass legislation to curb the proliferation of pill mills. Lois Windhorst, best known as a leader...
- Expect Action Against Pill Mills, Beshear Says In State Of Commonwealth Address; House Gop Leader Promises It
Gov. Steve Beshear received only two standing ovations during his State of the Commonwealth address last night, when he mentioned Kentucky soldiers and when he talked about fighting prescription drug abuse. (Photo by John Flavell, The Associated Press)...
- State Officials Step Up Efforts Against Prescription Drug Abuse, Targeting Doctors
By Tara Kaprowy and Al Cross Kentucky Health News LEXINGTON ? Targeting what Gov. Steve Beshear called "drug dealers in white coats" is the goal of a new effort against prescription drug abuse in Kentucky, which is killing more Kentuckians than traffic...
Health News
Broad front of officials, health-care leaders hold press conference to promote fighting Rx drug abuse
Representing a united front, policymakers from both sides of the political aisle, law enforcement, medical officials and other leaders stood by Gov. Steve Beshear Monday in support of attacking the state's prescription drug abuse problem head-on with legislation. (Courier-Journal photo by Tyler Bissmeyer)"If ever there was a Kentucky issue, this is it," Beshear said.
Among others, Beshear was flanked by Attorney General Jack Conway, Dr. Preston Nunnelley, president of the state Board of Medical Licensure, and House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, who last week introduced sweeping legislation that would require prescribers to use the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system; shift KASPER responsibilities to Conway's office; and require that pain-management clinics be owned by licensed health practitioners.
A bill introduced by Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, aims at making sure the 77 pain clinics in the state be owned by licensed practitioners; now, 33 of them don't. Higdon was also present at the rally Monday and feels "it doesn't matter who gets credit for the legislation ? a strong bill needs to be passed," reports the C-J's Laura Ungar.
State Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, gave heartfelt testimony about people in his life who were battling prescription drug abuse, including a friend's nice and his cousin's daughter. He's also been approached by people in his district begging for help, including a man who stopped him while he was buying groceries. "He said, 'I buried my son in December because of prescription drug abuse. Y'all need to do something about that.'"
He called the issue "the worst problem this state has," adding, "It affects families, it affects business, it affects insurance, it affects productivity."
Stumbo said, "If your family has not been affected by this scourge, you should go home and get on your knees and pray to your God."
Each month, on average, more than 80 Kentuckians die from drug overdoses, more than from traffic accidents. Beshear said fighting the problem is one of his top priorities. "We want to make absolutely sure these bills get the attention they deserve in this session," he said. "... We won't solve (the pill problem), but we're gonna make an aggressive push toward radically reducing" it. (Read more)
To view KET's "Legislative Update" showing highlights of the press conference, click here.
- Beshear Oks Prescription Bill, Telling Pill Mills, 'get Out Of This State'
Saying it couldn't get to his desk quickly enough, Gov. Steve Beshear signed a bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse in celebration today, warning so-called pill mills to "Get out of this state, because we're coming after you." House Bill...
- Senate Panel And House Ok Bills To Tackle Prescription-bill Abuse
Two bills aimed at attacking the state's prescription drug abuse problem made headway yesterday, with a major difference between the House and Senate measures, reflecting possible turf battles between state agencies and doctors' desire to maintain...
- Lawmakers Hear Testimony About State's Pill Mill Problem, Discuss Whether To Put All Prescription-drug Issues Into One Bill
With a raid on a pain clinic in Paintsville making headlines yesterday morning, state legislators heard from community leaders and officials telling them to pass legislation to curb the proliferation of pill mills. Lois Windhorst, best known as a leader...
- Expect Action Against Pill Mills, Beshear Says In State Of Commonwealth Address; House Gop Leader Promises It
Gov. Steve Beshear received only two standing ovations during his State of the Commonwealth address last night, when he mentioned Kentucky soldiers and when he talked about fighting prescription drug abuse. (Photo by John Flavell, The Associated Press)...
- State Officials Step Up Efforts Against Prescription Drug Abuse, Targeting Doctors
By Tara Kaprowy and Al Cross Kentucky Health News LEXINGTON ? Targeting what Gov. Steve Beshear called "drug dealers in white coats" is the goal of a new effort against prescription drug abuse in Kentucky, which is killing more Kentuckians than traffic...