In 2014, the California State Legislature adopted a Resolution marking March in California as, Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month in response to the astronomical death toll from opioid prescription drugs. Because California is the most populous state in the country, the sheer number of people who misuse or are dependent upon prescription opioid medication is alarming. Prevention and awareness campaigns were put in place to combat the health crisis.

Prescription drug awareness and prevention are very important because overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers often exceed OD deaths from heroin and cocaine combined. Drug diversion is fueling the opioid crisis because almost 70% of people who abuse prescription drugs get them from a relative or friend instead of a doctor. Click here to read more about Prescription Drug Awareness and Prevention Tools for Parents…