Each year, more people die from prescription pill abuse than methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine combined. To address and raise awareness about this national epidemic, the City of Santa Clarita will host the Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at the Santa Clarita Activities Center. The event will begin with a resource expo at 6:00 p.m., followed by symposium at 6:30 p.m.

Prescription drug abuse continues to affect families in communities across America, including the Santa Clarita Valley. Known as the “silent killer,” these dangerous prescription medications are often readily available in home medicine cabinets and can easily lead to addiction when misused or taken inappropriately.

“For so many Americans, the door to the medicine cabinet can lead to addiction and death. Prescription medication poses the same threat as heroin, yet it is even more dangerous because most families already have it in their homes,” said Mayor Laurene Weste. “The Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium will help equip attendees with knowledge and prevention tips to safeguard our community from the harmful effects of prescription drug abuse.”

The Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction symposium will proactively address drug issues among young people by providing attendees with important prevention advice and the tools needed to identify the signs of abuse. A resource expo will be held prior to the symposium to provide additional information from addiction and recovery experts.

A panel of experts and special guests will be on hand at the symposium, including Mayor Laurene Weste, City Manager Ken Striplin, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department Captain Roosevelt Johnson, Hart District Superintendent Rob Challinor, Child and Family Center psychiatrist Dr. Ernest Rasyidi, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital emergency physician Dr. Darrin Privitt and Total Care Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Mahesh Patel.
The Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium is the fourth in in the Heroin Kills series, and is free and open to the public. A live Spanish translation will also be available for bilingual attendees. To view a recent This Week in Santa Clarita segment on the symposium, click here.

The Santa Clarita Activities Center is located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway. To learn more about the Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium, contact Janine Prado, Human Services Administrator for the City of Santa Clarita at (661) 250-3708. For more information regarding heroin and prescription drugs in Santa Clarita, visit HeroinKills.org or the Heroin Kills Facebook page at FB.com/HeroinKillsSCV.