in february 2011, mike dewine recruited me to lead his prescription drug task force. attorney general dewine has been committed to using every resource ohio has to fight this scourge. and in hoip hohio we have taken nationwide stance in fighting back, changes in legislation, proactive law enforcement actions partnering with prescribers, dispensers and being proactive with awareness, education and treatment. through this effort, ohio has raised public awareness, increased public education, and improved ohio's investigations and prosecutions and in both criminal and regulatory cases. however, to make a real difference, we must limit the availability of prescription drugs to those individuals and actual need and in the proper quantities. in ohio, drug poisonings cost ohioans $3.6 billion annually. between the years of 1999 and 2007, ohio's rate of opioid distribution increased. ohio's drug death rate increased 305%. if you will look to my left see the remarkable correlation on the graph located closest off to the back of the room. in 1997, ohio averaged 7 doses of opioid