Prescription Drug Death Epidemic

James C. Bettencourt
Chairperson: Not In Our Town Glenn County
327 N. Culver Ave.
Willows, Ca.  95988
530-330-3139
www.drugpreventioned.com
www.end2meth.org

LETTER SENT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington , DC 20500

January 10, 2010

President Barack Obama,

On Wednesday, March 12, 2008 the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs heard the stark reality of prescription drug dependency in America. During the twelve months prior to the hearing 22,400 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. In the twenty-one months since that hearing approximately 17,500 United States citizens have died specifically from prescription drug overdoses. There have been more deaths from prescription drug overdoses in twenty-one months than all the U.S. soldiers lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, and individuals in the World Trade Center bombing combined.

I appreciate and understand the efforts that have been made by our political leaders to address this problem. My passion and concerns are that not enough is being done as quickly as needed or the magnitude of the problem not completely understood in order to save lives.

I am extremely concerned about this is as I have seen the deadly consequences of prescription drugs not only in Glenn County but also in neighboring Butte County. I have been tracking data from Butte County (specifically Chico Ca.) since December of 2008. Chico is a college town and has had eight prescription and or illicit drug deaths of college age students, five actual college students in a thirty-seven month period. I am working with Chico State University and the Chico City Council in an effort to begin intervention in reducing and or stopping these unnecessary deaths.

President Obama, you have wonderful small children who will grow into amazing teenagers and young adults and someday will be attending college. The innocent demographics of the dead and dying from prescription drug overdoses in America today, nearly half are children and young adults. This is not only about those who have become addicted or died but rather those who will die or become addicted if we do not intervene. Can you please help?

Sincerely,
James C. Bettencourt
327 N. Culver Ave
Willows, Ca. 95988

“Those who cannot tell what they desire or expect, still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson