Columbia’s drug gap

B Y A U S T I N A L O N Z O , C H E L S E A M Y E R S , G A R Y C O T T O N

COLUMBIA’S DRUG GAP

MISSOURI DRUG USE STATISTICS

• In Missouri the rate of all drug overdoses (13.1 per 100,000 deaths) which is higher than the national average,• But, the non-medical use of opioid painkillers (4.4

percent of the population over 12 years of age) is lower than the national average. • A CDC study from Nov. 2011, by Paulozzi et al

also noted more rural and impoverished counties tend to have more overdose deaths.

POISONING STATISTICS

WELLNESS RESOURCE CENTER STATISTICS PT.I

WELLNESS RESOURCE CENTER STATISTICS PT. II

PRESCRIPTION STATISTICS

• According to IMS Health, the most widely prescribed drug in 2010 was Viocodin (131.2 million prescriptions,) prescription of the opioid-based painkiller increased 16.7 percent from 2005.

• In Nov. 2011, the CDC concluded enough opioid pain killers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every adult in America (a 5mg dose) around the clock for the month.

• The NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, citing data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health concluded in 2010 approximately 7 million people abused prescription pills, 5.1 million of them abused prescription pain killers.

NATIONAL DRUG OVERDOSE STATISTICS

• According to the CDC, in 2007 the total amount of drug overdose deaths was 11.8 per 100,000 deaths, a three fold increase from 1999.

Chart: National Institutes of Health – National Institute on Drug Abuse. Last updated Dec. 2011.

NATINONAL DRUG OVERDOSE STATISTICS

• A CDC study by Paulozzi et al in Nov, 2011 concluded the following:• Prescription drug overdoses kill 4.8 per 100,000 people

nationally. For Non-Hispanic whites the number spikes to 8.4 per 100,000.

• Men are more likely than women to overdose, and Americans 35 - 54 are more likely to overdose than any other group. Those between 45 - 54 overdose on prescription drugs at 13.8 per 100,000, and on opioid pain killers alone 10.4 per 100,000.

DOCUMENTARY EQUIPMENT

• Camera: Canon Rebel T3i, 5D Mark II

• Audio: Olympus LS-11

• Rigs/tripods: Manfrotto, 2-way fluid pan head, shoulder mount

• Externals: Seagate USB 2.0, LaCie Thunderbolt

• Editing: Adobe Premiere CS5

CONCLUSIONS: EDUCATION

• According to interviews with educators, students, and addicts, Columbia’s drug education program has not been effective.• The Columbia School District themselves made a

significant change in their methods with the elimination of the Drug Awareness Resistance Education Program.• The district has also cut funding for the schools

School Resource Officer Program, but they’ve done it without a clear alternative.

CONCLUSIONS: REGULATION

• According to anecdotal evidence from doctors in Columbia, the current system of self-enforcement is not effective and lets patients and doctors fall through the cracks.

• According to Geoff Jones of the CPD’s Vice, Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, traditional law enforcement cannot be effective without the cooperation of the medical and civilian community.

• A prescription drug monitoring plan would be helpful, and increase the sharing of information between doctors and law-enforcement, but it is not a “magic law,” that will instantly solve all of Missouri’s prescription drug problems.

CONCLUSIONS: RECOVERY

• Substance abuse is a mental health disorder defined by the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM-IV. • For lasting recovery, most drug abusers need to

seek some kind of help in the form of rehab, religion, or Narcotics Anonymous.• After getting clean, maintaining a strong support

system and a structured life is key to staying clean.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE REPORTING

• Will the prescription drug monitoring plan ever pass? If so, when will it be implemented, who will really run it, will it really cost the state nothing, will it really prevent overdose deaths and doctor shopping?• What role do drug companies play in over-

prescription? Do they misrepresent the benefits of their products? Do they pay doctors to prescribe?• Will law enforcement’s cooperation with medical

professionals and the community make any kind of impact on attitudes toward prescription drugs and their

GARY’S CONCLUSION

• I think the most controversial piece of our project is the conclusion--or lack thereof. I insisted that the group leave that portion of the project open because I believe this story has to be modeled as an ongoing saga. If there were an easy fix to the drug issues facing Columbia, Missouri, and the nation, the problem would have been solved already. It's idealistic, but I think that a ongoing story told in the way we've told is in itself the conclusion. This news piece is shot in documentary style for a reason. It needs others to act in order for it both it, and the problem it exposes to be solved.