GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO JOIN PRESIDENT OBAMA’S DRUG CZAR FOR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 9, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will convene a roundtable discussion tomorrow on Maryland’s new Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which he will sign into law tomorrow morning.  The Governor will be joined at the event by Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

Establishing prescription drug monitoring programs nationwide is a top priority for President Obama’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.  The Office’s Director, commonly referred to as the nation’s “Drug Czar,” will travel to Maryland tomorrow to celebrate the progress in Maryland.

Also in attendance will be representatives of the medical pharmaceutical and law enforcement communities. The organizations represented tomorrow will make up an Advisory Board on Prescription Drug Monitoring to be created under the new law.

WHAT:            Governor O’Malley, ONDCP Director Kerlikowske to hold roundtable discussion on new prescription drug monitoring program in Maryland

WHEN:            TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 10 at 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:         Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program

                        251 Bayview Boulevard

Baltimore, MD 21224