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Article updated: 8/1/2012 5:13 PM

Congressional group takes on prescription drug abuse

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10th District U.S. Congressman Robert J. Dold is part of a congressional caucus working to curb the prescription drug abuse epidemic. He's pictured here earlier this year at a round-table discussion concerning the dangers of heroin in Lake County. School officials, law enforcement agencies, and substance abuse authorities attended the session.

Gilbert R. Boucher II/Daily Herald file photo

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In 2010, doctors prescribed enough painkillers to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As sales of these drugs increase, so do the number of deaths and people being admitted for substance abuse treatment. The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, including 10th District U.S. Rep. Robert Dold, has been studying the issue and last week made recommendations to the Food and Drug Administration on how to curb the current prescription drug abuse epidemic.