CEDAR RAPIDS - The United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa together with the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health and Injury Prevention Research Center are hosting a collaborative interagency symposium on November 12th to discuss the skyrocketing rates of death occurring in Iowa from prescription medication and heroin overdoses. For the 13-year period beginning in 2000, Iowans dying from prescription medication overdoses increased twenty-fold. Heroin overdose deaths experienced the same alarming rate of increase, jumping from one to 20 deaths per year.
The keynote speaker is award-winning journalist Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic. Participating in the symposium will be federal and state representatives who will be discussing medical, prevention and treatment perspectives. Law enforcement and legal implications will be analyzed. A parent’s perspective will detail how the death of a loved one impacts the family.
Event Details
WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015
WHERE: University of Iowa College of Public Health (Callaghan Auditorium), 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, Iowa
TIME: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Opening remarks begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by keynote.)
Parking instructions are attached.
Media wishing to attend should contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Young no later than November 10th to confirm their attendance. His contact information is contained in this advisory.
A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
