Prescription Drug Abuse: A New Subculture of Heroin Addiction

Prescription drug abuse is an escalating problem, but, with ongoing restrictions and the high cost of prescription opiates, many have turned to cheaper heroin to feed their addiction. Robert L. Hill, Executive Assistant with DEA’s Office of Diversion Control, will give an overview of prescription opiate abuse and misuse on a national level. Baltimore, Maryland, is a microcosm of a wider epidemic of prescription opiate abuse leading to a whole new subculture of heroin addiction. DEA Baltimore District Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle speaks on the shift from prescription opiates to heroin. Amy Laugelli, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for Carroll County, Maryland, works with the community group Residents Attacking Drugs (RAD). Laugelli speaks on the prevention, treatment, and recovery side of the problem.