From the 3/7 Show – From Milwaukee’s Best

The radio show wants to extend a thank you to Tom Kertscher from the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel for being a guest last night. Tom had a story published last week called LEGAL DRUGS HAVE DEADLY IMPACT http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/85746712.html The story not only clarified the growing influence prescription drugs are having on the reported deaths in the Milwaukee area but reinforced numbers we are seeing from around the country. It appears that about 65 to 70% of overdose deaths include a prescription drug(s) .
Tom’s story also highlighted the pain and turmoil individual families suffer from a loved one who becomes addicted to drugs that include the legal narcotics. The Milwaukee area lost a beautiful 15 year old girl to drugs and a 23 year old man will have the memory of contributing to her death for his remaining life.
Tom’s story was impactful and I hope an eye opener for his community. The St. Pete Times ran a similar story almost three years ago. The radio show has been vocal in trying to explain why the epidemic has continued to increase in the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater area even though we had a newspaper who recognized the epidemic first. The St Pete Times has chosen to stop their investigative journalism when it comes to the pain management industry. Pinellas County now has about 50 pain clinics and we have over 900 listed in Florida. The deaths that include prescription drugs continue to mount every day in Florida.
It is my hope that the people in Milwaukee read and understand Tom Kertscher’s article. If a better understanding is not realized soon, Milwaukee and the rest of the country will follow Florida’s example. With narcotics, legal or illegal, “follow the money”.