FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 19, 2011

Central Recovery Treatment’s Medical Director, Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM responds to announcement of
new national plan to address prescription drug abuse epidemic in the US

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States. The numbers are staggering: overdoses
on prescription drugs now exceed the number of overdoses during the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and the black
tar heroin epidemic of the 1970s combined. In 2007, approximately 27,000 people died from unintentional drug overdoses
—currently the leading cause of injury death in seventeen states and driven mostly by prescription drugs. Hospital
emergency room visits involving the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs have doubled over the past five years.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the number of Americans in
2009 aged twelve and older currently abusing prescription pain medications has increased by 20 percent since 2002.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) just-released action plan to address prescription
drug abuse nationally includes new federal requirements aimed at educating the medical community about proper
prescribing practices and provides a national framework for reducing prescription drug diversion and abuse by
recommending (among other things) more convenient and environmentally responsible disposal methods to remove
unused medications from the home, supporting education for patients and health care providers, and reducing the
prevalence of pill mills and doctor shopping through enforcement efforts.

In response to the announcement Dr. Pohl noted, “We applaud the federal government’s progressive national policy
initiative to enhance awareness, reduce stigma, and improve the availability of treatment related to prescription drug
abuse. ONDCP realized what we have known for quite some time—that the abuse of prescription drugs, particularly
opioid pain medications, is a problem of epidemic proportions in America. When used properly these medications can be
a necessary component of pain management for certain patients, but we know that they pose significant risks of
dependency, even when used properly. Their potential for abuse and addiction is extremely high and the consequences of
misuse can be deadly. We see and treat the devastation prescription drug abuse creates in the lives of individuals and
families on a daily basis.” Dr. Pohl discussed this initiative with Dr. Tim Condon, Deputy Director, National Institute on
Drug Abuse, at the recent medical scientific conference of American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) in
Washington, DC. “I hope the tide will turn on this unfortunate trend in medical care for people with chronic pain who
cannot safely manage these prescription medications.”

Central Recovery Treatment (CRT) provides effective inpatient and outpatient programs based on the approach that
addiction is a chronic brain disease with many behavioral manifestations. Addiction affects the individual emotionally,
mentally, physically, and spiritually. We know that just stopping the use of drugs is not the solution; and all of our client
and family programs are built around this principle. We address the underlying, unresolved patterns and feelings that are
at the core of addiction.

Las Vegas Recovery Center’s Chronic Pain Recovery Program is designed to address the unique needs of individuals who
have chronic pain and co-occurring dependence on opioids and other reward-inducing drugs. We are committed to
providing comprehensive individualized care utilizing an interdisciplinary team approach. Our goal is to simultaneously
treat the drug dependence, the pain disorder, and the results of each to replace a self-image of disability with one of
wellness.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. POHL, PLEASE CONTACT:
Sarah Day (702) 515-1373 ext. 377 or sday@centralrecovery.com