Prescription Drug Abuse - It's Not What the Doctor Ordered: Georgia Prevention Initiative Awareness Campaign

ATLANTA, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One person dies every 19 minutes from prescription drug abuse in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Initiative of The Council on Alcohol and Drugs, funded by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, (DBHDD) has just launched an Awareness Campaign called "Prescription Drug Abuse – It's Not What the Doctor Ordered."  It focuses primarily on educating adults and youth about how to prevent prescription drug abuse, including the importance of safely storing and securely disposing of prescription and over the counter drugs.

The Campaign features its own website, www.StopRxAbuseInGA.org which includes links to downloadable resources such as "PACT360" a power-packed Parent Toolkit from The Partnership at Drugfree.org as well as prevention posters and postcards geared toward communicating with parents and seniors about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Other components of the Campaign include over 300 radio public service announcements (PSAs) airing during morning and evening drive times over the next two months.  

The PSAs will be broadcast on 112 radio stations across the state on the Georgia News Network and 94.9 FM/The Bull. The Awareness Campaign also includes a Facebook ad component aimed at connecting with the social media user. The ads take the visitor to the website mentioned above.

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs is working with a wide range of organizations that support the Awareness Campaign including the Medical Association of Georgia Foundation, the Georgia Family Connection Partnership, the Georgia Sheriffs Association and other state and federal law enforcement agencies, public and private schools, civic groups, and social organizations. Guidance for this campaign is being provided by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities/Division of Addictive Diseases/Office of Prevention Services and Programs.

For additional information or questions concerning the Georgia Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Awareness Campaign, please contact John Bringuel, MA, ICPS, at (404) 223-2484 or email Mr. Bringuel at [email protected].

SOURCE The Council on Alcohol and Drugs