LEXINGTON — The U.S. Attorneys in Kentucky announced today the key speakers for Kentucky’s first ever state wide Prescription Drug Abuse Summit.
The one day event will include remarks from Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Wilfredo Ferrer, U.S. Attorney from the Southern District of Florida and University of Kentucky President Dr. Eli Capilouto. As the chief federal law enforcement officer in south Florida, U.S. Attorney Ferrer leads a broad effort to investigate and prosecute purveyors of rogue pain clinics, also known as “pill mills” in South Florida.Experts from UK’s medical, pharmacy and dental schools will participate in panel discussions.
Law enforcement in Kentucky has made prescription pill abuse one of its highest priorities. In 2010 and 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted approximately 120 cases related to prescription pills; more than double the prosecutions involving any other type of drug. However, combating this problem cannot be solved by law enforcement alone. Success will require a joint effort from health care, social services, regulatory and education professionals.
With this in mind, the U.S. Attorneys in Kentucky in conjunction with the University Of Kentucky (UK) Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are hosting a Prescription Drug Abuse Summit on February 1, 2012 at the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital Pavilion in Lexington, Ky. The one day event will include presentations and panel discussions of the many facets of prescription pill drug abuse and its impact on Kentucky communities, schools, and institutions.
“This summit will lead to increased communication and awareness among all those that are engaged in this fight,” said the Eastern District of Kentucky’s U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey. “We encourage more industry professionals who are a part of this ongoing battle, to attend, so we can create a strong and united front to combat this pill epidemic.”
Other speakers at the event include Van Ingram, Executive Director of Kentucky’s Office of Drug Control Policy, a mayor, police chiefs, a high school principal and a host of doctors from UK’s college of Medicine, Oral Health Science, and Pharmacy.
The summit is free and open to industry professionals. For questions or to register or the pill summit, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 859-685-4805 or at william.allen.love@usdoj.gov
