Mayor Berry launches anti-drug campaign
Posted at: 07/19/2012 12:18 PM
By: The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry and the head of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association are launching a public service campaign to combat prescription drug abuse.
Berry and Dr. Jeremy Gleeson are holding a news conference next Thursday to preview the campaign, which is part of a national awareness initiative called Safeguard My Meds.
One of the campaign's goals is to educate families about the importance of safely storing and disposing of prescription medications.
Officials say many young people mistakenly think that it is safer to misuse prescription medications than illegal street drugs.
New Mexico's overall drug-overdose death rate is the highest in the country.
Statistics from the state Department of Health show the sale of opioid drugs has gone up 131 percent from 2001 to 2010.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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