Kentucky Joins Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Campaigns

Several states hard hit by prescription drug abuse will work together to develop strategies to combat what authorities say is an ever-growing problem. Kentucky will join Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia in the initiative.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said all the states recognize that comprehensive regional and national strategies are needed to fight prescription abuse.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway has joined another national campaign aimed at preventing prescription abuse among teenagers. Conway said the goal is to prevent a half million teens from abusing prescription drugs within five years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that one person dies every 19 minutes in the United States from an overdose. And in Kentucky, more than 1,000 people die each year from prescription drug overdoses.