Answering a mother’s call

Posted: Sunday, July 05, 2009 5:30 PM by Ian Sager

By Mark Potter, NBC News correspondent

Tonight's report on Nightly News about the ravages of prescription drug abuse is in response to a powerful phone call from a mother in Kentucky.

The day after we aired a report in May about pain clinics in Florida supplying prescription painkillers to drug addicts and dealers from around the Southeast, I got a call on my cell phone while driving to work at our Miami office.

The caller was Lynn Kissick of Morehead, Kentucky, who saw our report and then took the initiative to reach out to the Broward County Sheriff's Office in Ft. Lauderdale, where we had done much of our reporting. Lynn was determined to find me, and asked if the deputies had my phone number. Because I had left several of my business cards behind, they were able to give it to her.

When the phone rang, I heard a quiet voice on the line ask if I was the man who had done the pain clinics report. When I confirmed it was I, she said, "There’s another side to that story. Those pain pills are killing off the younger generation here." She had my full attention.

Sadly, Lynn Kissick and her husband Sam (right, above) know all too well about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Their 22-year-old daughter, Savannah (below, left), died on New Year's Day from an overdose of oxycodone painkillers and sedatives. A friend, Karen Shay, had also lost her 19-year-old daughter, Sarah, to a lethal mix of methadone and sedatives. Many other families in town, Lynn said, were also struggling with the losses of their loved ones, or with the horrors of addiction.

It didn't take long to confirm that Lynn was right. Coroners, law enforcement officials, drug rehabilitation counselors and other parents all used the word "epidemic" to describe the prescription drug abuse problem. The Kentucky Bureau of Vital Statistics reported that at least 485 people had died there from prescription overdoses last year alone. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said nearly 7-million Americans abuse prescription medication.

In meeting Lynn, Sam and Karen, we found parents who are struggling with devastating personal losses. But we also found them to be fiercely determined to warn others about the dangers of this scourge and to urge officials to crack down harder on the illicit suppliers of prescription drugs.

Tonight's story is their story. That phone call has been answered.

Web only video: Coroner: Prescription drugs 'killing our young'

Video: Teen prescription drug abuse an epidemic?

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Comments

I will tune in as I am from Kentucky and
the story is of great interest to me. There
are pros and cons on prescription drugs and
I like to be informed on the issue. See
you then!!! ANd have a nice day.

Phyllis Kunz Louisville Ky. (Sent Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:01 PM)

I lived in Central Kentucky for a number of years, and when people from other regions would move to the area loudly proclaiming that they were coming because "it's heap here, and I want to be where there is no drug problems or crime", I would just shake my head and wish them luck. I saw more evidence of drug abuse in that small (15k) "Mayberry-like" town than I saw living in a city of over 1 million or growing up in a mid-Atlantic city with a long-standing drug trafficing problem. Oxycodone is nearly as big a problem as meth in that area, and nearly everyone knew someone whose life had been affected by it.

Glad to see some media coverage about it. It's not just in Kentucky, though. I now live in an even smaller western town, and the paper is full of drug -related incidnets, many involving illegal use of prescription drugs. I've lost count of the number of stories of parents trying to get "the word out" after their own child has OD'd. We have our timing backward, people. The time to be aware, involved and angry about this is BEFORE you find your child dead from an overdose.

Renee Roderick (Sent Sunday, July 05, 2009 3:54 PM)

The story was heartbreaking.

As you no doubt know, President Bush signed
into law a bill to create electronic
monitoring programs to PREVENT the abuse of
prescription drugs (by patients and doctors)
in all 50 states. Yes, there are doctors
that need to be monitores too. Way too
many doctors hand out drugs like they are
candy.

Sincerely
Phyllis Kunz

Phyllis Kunz Louisville Ky. (Sent Sunday, July 05, 2009 7:07 PM)

When we deify Michael Jackson, a known prescription drug user what sort of a message are we sending to young people? You cannot glorify Michael Jackson and then expect young people to ignore the news.

Shirley Salamido Fort Myers, FL (Sent Sunday, July 05, 2009 7:31 PM)

yes prescription drugs are a problem, but I think the parents need to step up to the plate and take some blame. There is no reason for more legislation to clog our governmental system when parents can be the solution.

john Doe, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:29 AM)

It's terrible to think that this problem is just now coming to light. Eastern Kentucky has had this problem for years. I am 28 years old and have experienced the death of very close friends since i was 14. By the time I turned 18 I had already lost count of those who had OD'd. I have been fortunate to be strong enough to over come my addictions in the past, my husband had to hit rock bottom several times before he seriously wanted help. Even today he still struggles but he just keeps going. Intially it is a choice you make, in the end and in to many situations addiction takes control and you have no choice but to abuse just to get out of bed each day and feel normal. What starts out as someting fun ends up a way of life just to servive. Even if you don't overdose you still face the very grim fact of destroying your life buy going to jail or betraying, steeling or hurting your loved ones. Every one sufers not just the addict.

MGB, powell county, Kentucky (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 10:13 AM)

Thank God you ran this show! I live In Winchester Ky. and drugs are sooooo bad in this little town! If all of us regular people know who does them and uses why dont the law do something??? Are they getting kick backs from it all or do they think they wont have no criminals to go after if they stop it all? Homes are getting broke into, people are getting beat up, the young are dying way before their time!!! I blame the doctors and the law!!!!! Everyone I know takes some prescription drug, most more then one.... they think the doctors know what they are doing and a doctor gave them to me.... why are doctors NOT finding the cause of things and just giving pills away???? The older people cant even afford all these pills that thier own parrents never even had to take .... give me a BREAK!!!!! Its all about mney .... I KNOW doctors get kick backs to write them out!!!

Please Please do more shows and come to Winchester, Ky!!!!!!!

Lisa Estepp (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 10:37 AM)

I have worked in a pharmacy for over 25 years. This is truly an epidemic. The only way it will ever stop is if these doctors quit prescribing ungodly amounts of pain meds (Methadone, Oxycodone, MSIR, etc) to people who truly have no pain. They are just incredibly good actors. I see it everyday! No longer is it a normal monthly high blood pressure medication refill or cholesterol, diabetes. Our normal day is people calling for a price check on #360 Methadone 10mg., or oxycodone. It is just crazy. They come in and pick up there medications and turn right around and sell it for more than they purchased it from the pharmacy. And of course they are also living off from the state. Something definitely needs to be done.

Terri Conners, Boyne City, MI (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 11:09 AM)

I began yelling for help for this issue here in Spokane, WA. In 2006. I am disabled with constant pain, but gave up my prescriptions in 2006 after seeing the problem. Wish I'd have been heard then! I am so sorry to hear it has spread. The F.B.I. knew. The D.E.A. knew, D.S.H.S. knew... wonder what they were doing until now. Consider the following generation. Sadly there is one, and they are watching this.

cindy, Spokane, WA. (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 11:42 AM)

HERE IN ATLANTA WE ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME THING. MY GRANDSON HAS BEEN ADDICTED SINCE 15, KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN IN BOOT CAMP UNTIL JULY 15. WE PRAY EVERYDAY FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. WE HAD PHONE # OF ALL PUSHERS THAT HE HAS USED AND NOT SURE IF HE DIDN'T DO THE SAME THING FOR HIS HABIT. OUR WHOLE FAMILY HAS CRIED AND PRAYED . TILL THE TAKE THESE PAIN KILLERS OFF THE MARKET THERE WILL NO CONTROL.

M WILSON ATL,GA (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 12:05 PM)

I too, am a mother who nearly lost my 27 year old son last July 8 to an overdose of prescription drugs. I received a phone call that he was found unconscious and had been taken to the emergency room. The only news I could get from the doctor was that she was sorry - my son had been unconscious for so long, she didn't know if he would come out of it. And if he did, there would be brain damage. We live 600 miles away. I drove those 600 agonizing miles to get to him, not knowing if I would ever see my son alive again. He was transferred to a larger hospital (they didn't even have the lights or sirens going on the transfer ambulance) cardiac intensive care unit, he had gone into cardiac arrest - all of his major organs were shutting down, he was on life support. The intensive care doctors did not expect him to survive. By some miracle and the excellent care he recieved, I have my son back.

My son has since been in a rehab program for just over a year. I beleive he realizes the devastating effect this has had on me and his whole family. We have all come together to help him get the help he needs. I just hope it is enough.

My heart goes out to any parent who is struggling with a child who has an addiction. Since this has happened, I have wanted to do something that will help make parents aware of the warning signs, what to look for. I wish I would have had more info. and been more knowledgable on drug abuse and the effects. It may not have prevented my son's behavior, but at least I could have pushed for help sooner.

Devasted

Chris McNeil, Omaha, NE (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 12:23 PM)

I have written a email to Mark Potter in response to the Prescription Drugs but the email can not be delivered at the email address: mark.potter.nbc.com. I lost my 22 year old son to prescription drugs and would love to contact him. Can you please help me to reach him?

Thank you,
Donna Poag

Donna Poag, Newport, Beach, California (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 12:43 PM)

Donna,
Try, mark.potter@nbc.com, you may have better luck.

Mitch

Mitch Brasier (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:21 PM)

There needs to be a law that tracks prescriptions by Social Security Number and Name, that is in use in all 50 States that way no matter how far they drive the system will have their Name and Social Security Number – That will stop Doctor Shopping but because most Chronic Pain is suffered by Older Americans we can no limit the Drugs available to them. Are we to burn down the barn to roast the pig? I hope not. I am 60 years old and have had three major surgeries of my lower back and require another on my neck. I experience severe pain most of the time and I have had the same Doctor for over 10 years and unless I have a problem requiring another specialty my Doctor is the only Doctor that I need unless I was to take a trip and possible become sick while traveling. I believe that a law needs to be passed that requires patients with strong narcotics to have to keep them in a locked container of some sort that way they will not be out in the open for easy theft by visitors or those in search of drugs to steal. This Problem can be addressed if cooperation of all involved tightens up the availability of these drugs to be circumvented by our youth and others bent on illegal use of these powerful drugs. Only then will there be …

Rick Reno (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 2:48 PM)

I am a mother who has lost a son to addiction. It started with oxycotin and went on to herion. He died 1 year ago June 26th. He was 20 and full of life. I currently belong to the SAMA (science and management of addiction) foundation. SAMAfoundation.org. We are working to eliminate the disease of substance abuse of our youth by advancing research, education and treatment. I am glad to see some attention brought to this subject, but there needs to be more. We need to stop the stigma and speak up.

Lori, Stanwood, WA (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 3:09 PM)

I live in the Philadelphia area and have a 33 year old daughter in prison because of perscription pain killers. My husband and I are raising her 4 yr. old triplets and 8 year old daughter while she serves time for robbery. This addiction has effected everyone in our family. My sons who help us raise them as well as my sisters. I fear the day she gets out because I don't believe even incarceration will make her stop. Imagine when you have even the smallest of surgeries a doctor hands you a month perscription of pain killers and sends you on your way with little or no monitoring. Everyone needs to be watched closer. I'm sure it is a money making machine for everyone involved but the patient.

Mary Ann Keough, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 3:52 PM)

The tobacco companies got sued for marketing such addictive substances as "safe." Why not the big pharma drug companies? They are making money hand over fist, so for them the more addictive the drugs are, the better. Doctors and clinics are making big bucks too from this. Where are the regulators? Where are the criminal investigations? Maybe if the Michael Jackson investigation shuts down some docs and puts some people in jail (150 years sounds about right), that will get the ball rolling.

And BTW it's not just a "youth" thing. My mother-in-law was hooked on this stuff most of her adult life. I miss her, and mourn for the person she could have been.

Betsy, Providence, RI (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 5:23 PM)

I've seen what prescription painkillers can do to young people.. Is'nt it about time to put some boundries on drug companies and outlaw doctors who prescribe this " legal heroin" like soda-pop.. and isn't it about time to try alternative therapies , instead of creating more problems with opiod drugs such as suboxone and methadone! Ibogaine seems promising, oh but the drug companies can't patient it and make huge profits.. Such Holistic Treatment Centers such G&G in Miami are good, but expensive and many Insurance companies will not cover in-patient!!!!!

Bob lang, Brockport, NY (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 7:15 PM)

I have two children who are addicts to opiates one is in jail the other a daughter with a three year old and no one knows where she is at this time. I feel parents the public need to let our government take a big step in controlling prescription drugs. We are losing one young adult every week in our area,something must be done immediately. I feel the pain of everyone who has lost a loved one,my heart goes out to you. I pray that if we write our senators and congressmen that this tragedy can be eliminated. In Utah

carolyn hirst (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 8:21 PM)

I lost my beautiful 18 year old daughter about 18 months ago to an overdose of prescription drugs and alchohol. She attended a party where there were more than 75 kids at the home, with 3 or 4 drug dealers in attendance. In spite of the large number of party-goers, not one is willing to tell the truth about what went on at that party.
Parents and others who have young people frequenting their homes, please lock up your prescriptions, so that your child or their friends cannot get access to any of your medications. It is only a small thing to do, but may save someone's child, and prevent another parent's heartbreak of living without their child for the rest of their life.
I believe that this is not just a problem involving our children, as most teens are not prescribed painkillers, but that we need a solution to curtail the easy access to these medications and those who get the prescriptions and resell them to others.

Pat, North Jersey (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 8:26 PM)

Believe me, John Doe, Seatle WA, parents who lose their kids to drug overdose are feeling a lot of the blame...

Tom (Sent Monday, July 06, 2009 8:27 PM)

I live in Morehead,Ky. and have almost all my life and what I have seen happen to so many loved ones because of drugs is heart breaking.I have lost a brother-in-law,friends and neighbors because of this epidemic.My sister struggles with it everyday of her life.We pray for her everyday,please God don't let today be the day we lose her,let her live for another day.My parents have been thru so much with her,they are physically and mentally drained.There really is not any "real" help here.Look at our court system,sherriff's department and police officers,they are no better.Precription drugs are affecting all of us.One of my good freinds in school was one of the main ring leaders,I didn't see it until it was too late.Now he is behind bars.I can name at least 25 people that I grew up with that is struggling with addiction.Kentucky really needs to crack down on these pill mills and Florida runners and take back our community.Stop slapping them on the wrist and start punishing them harder,maybe then they will see that we mean business.And thank you Nighty News,Dateline,Karen Shay,Lynn and Sam Kissick for letting people know there is always another side to every story,a heart wrenching side.

TJS Morehead,Kentucky (Sent Tuesday, July 07, 2009 1:15 AM)

I too have lost my beautiful 32 year old daughter to an overdose of prescription drugs on July 13th 2009. What I find hard to believe is the doctor who prescribed them was a doctor she met at a drug and alcohol Rehab. He then took her on as a patient in his private practice and prescribed oxycodone,xanax, celexa, ambien along with a few other drugs. I find this rather unusual and unethical. Nothing will bring her back but if there is anyway to help stop these Doctors I will be there in her memory and to stop other moms from this never ending pain I will endure the rest of my life.

Palma Talarico (Sent Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:51 PM)

I am in the Ft. Myers area and I ca tell you that this is absolutely killing our generation of youth too. I have a daughter (20) that I just put into rehab this weekend. She gets her "drugs" from drug dealers with degrees. This is shameful and Florida should be ashamed of themselves. What happened to the oath of do no harm? These people aren't in pain, they are drug addicts and these "doctors" at pain clinics are supplying their habits. I can't stand this and I'm taking them one. I'm going to a pain clinic this week just to see how easy it really is.

Jennifer, Ft. Myers, Fl (Sent Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:58 PM)

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