DRUG ABUSE: Doctor Awarded For Prevention Work
A central Iowa doctor was honored Monday for his work to reduce prescription drug abuse.
Dr. Gary Hemann was presented with the of the Physician’s Innovation, Determination and Excellence in Action to reduce substance abuse award.
According to Iowa Drug Policy Coordinator Steve Lukan “Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing form of substance abuse in Iowa, as illustrated by the 62 prescription pain reliever overdose deaths last year, an all-time high in our state.”
Dr. Hemann launched a program at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines in 2011 to review emergency department pain medication prescriptions with the goal of standardizing the process. He also created a coalition of local and state health care organizations to make the program available in all Iowa hospitals.
