Today prescription drug abuse is a deadly, serious, and rapidly escalating problem all across our Nation.

I believe my legislation, the Ryan Creedon Act, H.R. 2119, and the Stop Oxy Abuse Act, H.R. 1316, are good starting points.

The death toll from overdoses of these powerfully-addictive medicines is now more than double the death toll from heroin, cocaine, and all other illegal drugs combined.

I think they are critical even for policymakers. We need that data critically.

What are the gaps, and how can they be filled?

It is time to realize that we can't simply wish this horrific problem away, not with nearly 30,000 people a year dying from it.

There is no question our doctors are working too hard, and ultimately this comes out of their patient visit, they are scrambling because healthcare is squeezed more and more and more, and this is a part of the problem.

Thank you very much, Director. I will recognize myself now for 5 minutes for questioning.

I am a little bit frustrated by the notion that a prescription drug monitoring program is punitive.

If 30,000 Americans died every year from food poisoning, Congress would take action.

What is the next step?