(Palm Springs) – Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) will appear live on CNN’s “Starting Point” Tuesday morning with Soledad O’Brien. She will be discussing the death of singer Whitney Houston.
Bono Mack is the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse. She plans to hold congressional hearings on prescription drug abuse in the coming months.
“Like so many others, I was deeply saddened to learn of Whitney Houston’s death. As a singer and entertainer, she was such a unique talent and had an unforgettable, once-in-a-generation voice,” said Bono Mack in a statement issued today.
“While it’s still too early to know the exact cause of her death, Whitney Houston – like millions of Americans – reportedly struggled with the demons of prescription drug abuse for a long time. Today, prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in America and is now considered an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control.
“But here’s what’s so tragic: for the most part, prescription drug abuse is a treatable and even preventable health problem. Yet as Americans, we need to finally get serious about tackling this deadly issue head-on, addressing everything from the overprescribing of medications to cracking down on rouge pill mills to improving education – especially in our schools where nearly one in four 12th graders have abused prescription medications.
“Whitney Houston’s life certainly will be remembered for her rich, soulful, unmistakable voice. But perhaps her death can also be remembered as the turning point in the struggle against prescription drug abuse in America. That would be quite a legacy, too.”
Only a few days ago, on February 9, Bono Mack had released a statement that she was stepping up her investigation into prescription drug abuse. She indicated that prescription drug abuse claims the lives of approximately 20,000 people each year.
“More needs to be done to save lives,” she said. “According to a recent national survey, some 7 million people aged 12 or older regularly abuse prescription drugs, and there are approximately 7,000 new abusers every day – many of them teenagers and young adults. This alarming trend is taking a huge toll on our society.”
Bono Mack currently represents the Coachella Valley, which includes Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and Cathedral City. Her website is www.bono.house.gov.
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