kerlikowske a question. just bring this up, a very good friend of mine, tommy, head of our drug task force, you know tommy, and very aggressive in this. we get together quite often. i seem in the morning. i see them for coffee. he brought to me a few months ago that anyone has really showed itself in an alarming statistic. that seems like something that was 1970s i guess and he said because our legislators have been so aggressive with pharmacies, with a tamper resistant, another prescription drugs are more difficult to get an era when. and i just want to see, i know you're aware that. the strategy, the prescription drug abusers are now finding that out and it's easy to get harewood than prescription drugs because we been so good in instead of trying to control of. >> and that has been going on for quite a while. the evidence across the country is that there's an increasing harewood and some of the survey instrument are showing that we have the overpopulation. there's another component about this, too, and th

esther kerlikowske -- mr. kerlikowske is recognized. >> thank you, members of the subcommittee and thank you for the opportunity to address the important issue of ascription drug abuse. repenting drug abuse has been a major focus of our office is my confirmation four years ago. -- since my confirmation quencher years ago. we have worked to address what has been termed an epidemic. position allows me to raise public awareness and take action on drug issues that affect the nation and the administration recognizes addiction is a dizzying and prevention treatment and smart law enforcement have to play a part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce drug use and give help to those that need it and to ensure public health and safety. we are here today because the project -- prescription drug abuse has had devastating consequences. increasing in treatment for substance use, emergency room visits, and the deaths that are attributable to prescription drug overdose place a burden upon communities across the country. in 201

gil kerlikowske and appreciate it the partnership samsa has, working together, one of my roles in addition to being a vote director of the center for mental health services is leading samsa and support initiative and we have a wonderful partnership, supporting recovery oriented approaches for people with mental health and addiction issues. this includes supporting recovery oriented systems of care by states, tribes and local governments, recovery oriented systems, coordinated networks of services and supports that our strength based and recovery focus. for quality of life for individuals, families and communities, the very definition of what twenty-first century health care is all about and samsa appreciates the support. show you all aware this week, a historic week for mental health in america. particularly for the concept of recovery. for the first time in a long time the mental-health needs of the nation are in national priority. this past monday -- this past monday the presidents barack obama and vice president biden announced the international conference on mental health and used thei