Nicole Hutcheson, Times Staff Writer
Friday, August 27, 2010
Times Staff Writer
TAMPA -- What can law enforcement do to deter prescription drug abuse? How can doctors tell the difference between an addict and someone in real pain? How can you treat pain on a more spiritual level?
More than 140 people gathered Friday morning at the Marriott Waterside to address these questions during a summit on drug abuse.
The event was hosted by Associates in Emergency Medical Education, a Tampa Bay company that trains medical professionals. The Alliance for Global Narcotics Training partnered with the organization. This is the event's second year.
Doctors, prosecutors, law enforcement and drug abuse counselors from across the country spent the morning sharing their expertise, stories and tips on dealing with prescription drug abuse. It is estimated that seven people die from prescription drug abuse every day in Florida.
"The goal is to come up with answers as a whole," said Sharon Kelley, executive director of Associates in Emergency Medical Education. "There is no one solution to this, you have to bring all the players together."