Glenn Thompson: “This morning I was at Penn State University, a great land grant university, for the inaugural conference of the…”

“This morning I was at Penn State University, a great land grant university, for the inaugural conference of the Consortium to Combat Substance Abuse. Penn State has brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to address the largest public health crisis of our lifetime: the opioid and substance abuse epidemic. This group will draw on the expertise of researchers, educators, and practitioners from Penn State campuses across the Commonwealth to develop and implement effective programs, policies, and practices aimed at preventing and treating addiction and its spillover effects on children, families, and our communities. Pennsylvania has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic, especially our rural communities, though no household is immune. On Saturday, Americans had the opportunity to protect their communities and prevent the spread of addiction by safely disposing of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription drugs, thanks to the Drug Enforcement Administration's 17th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is encouraging to see communities working together to slow the spread of the opioid epidemic. It is my hope that through increased awareness and action at all levels we can eradicate it once and for all. ____________________”