Vehicle crash-lands on roof of Pittsburgh supermarket

Letter to the Editor: Early release of low-level offenders a poor plan for Pennsylvania

<p>Drug overdose deaths are claiming the lives of more Pennsylvanians today than even motor vehicle accidents.</p><p>In 2014, about 2,500 individuals &#8211; seven people a day &#8211; succumbed in the commonwealth to fatal overdoses from prescription opioids and heroin, a staggering 20 percent increase over the previous year.</p><p>Sadly, we expect that number to grow when 2015 statistics are released this summer.</p><p>Drug addiction is the public health crisis of our time. In fact, it is the worst public health crisis I have seen in more than 30 years as a health professional.</p><p>We know the greatest risk factor leading to heroin addiction is a prior addiction to prescription opioid pain medications.</p><p>Gov. Tom Wolf has called on the Pennsylvania Department of Health and other state agencies to collaborate and develop a plan to address this devastating health problem.</p><p>To date, we have taken many steps to save lives from overdoses:</p><p>We have distributed naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse overdose, to emergency medical and law enforcement personnel. Soon all public schools will have access to naloxone at no cost. Thanks to a standing order signed by Physician General Rachel Levine, all Pennsylvanians can access naloxone at their pharmacies.</p><p>We have developed opioid-prescribing guidelines for medical professionals.</p><p>We are moving toward implementing a comprehensive prescription-drug monitoring program.</p><p>Pennsylvania&#8217;s original monitoring program is among the oldest such databases in the country. It was established in 1972 under the Attorney General&#8217;s Office to prevent fraud and criminal diversion of controlled substances. The enhanced database will provide physicians with information on patients&#8217; prescription histories in order to identify and treat potential abusers.</p><p>We recently selected a vendor to create and maintain the database, and expect it to be fully functional later this year.</p><p>It is our hope that this additional tool will support our ongoing efforts to save lives and prevent the devastation caused by this disease.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Karen Murphy</p><p>Contributing columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Karen Murphy is secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. For information, visit <a href="http://www.health.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx#.VtobRuZLPYo" target="_blank">www.health.pa.gov</a>.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Karen Murphy: State acts to halt rise in opioid overdose deaths