City of Santa Clarita officials are hoping to address and raise awareness about prescription pill abuse, a national epidemic that has killed more people than methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine combined.

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To address and raise awareness about this national epidemic, the city of Santa Clarita will host the Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium on Aug. 27, 2014 at the Santa Clarita Activities Center.

The event will begin with a resource expo at 6:00 p.m., followed by symposium at 6:30 p.m.

“I would like to give props to the city of Santa Clarita for their continued support and education in the community,” said Cary Quashen, founder of Action Family Counseling. “Knowledge is power and we are fortunate in Santa Clarita that government continues their efforts in saving lives.”

Prescription drug abuse continues to affect families in communities across America, including the Santa Clarita Valley.

Known as the “silent killer,” these dangerous prescription medications are often readily available in home medicine cabinets and can easily lead to addiction when misused or taken inappropriately.

Related: Action’s Mobile Memorial Experience Remembers Drug Overdose Victims

“For so many Americans, the door to the medicine cabinet can lead to addiction and death. Prescription medication poses the same threat as heroin, yet it is even more dangerous because most families already have it in their homes,” said Mayor Laurene Weste. “The Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium will help equip attendees with knowledge and prevention tips to safeguard our com

munity from the harmful effects of prescription drug abuse.”

The Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction symposium will proactively address drug issues among young people by providing attendees with important prevention advice and the tools needed to identify the signs of abuse. A resource expo will be held prior to the symposium to provide additional information from addiction and recovery experts.

A panel of experts and special guests will be on hand at the symposium, including Weste, City Manager Ken Striplin, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Captain Roosevelt Johnson, Hart District Superintendent Rob Challinor, Child and Family Center psychiatrist Dr. Ernest Rasyidi, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital emergency physician Dr. Darrin Privitt and Total Care Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Mahesh Patel.

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The Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium is the fourth in in the Heroin Kills series, and is free and open to the public. A live Spanish translation will also be available for bilingual attendees. To view a recent This Week in Santa Clarita segment on the symposium, check out the website.

The Santa Clarita Activities Center is located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway. To learn more about the Pills Kill: Prescription to Addiction Symposium, contact Janine Prado, Human Services Administrator for the city of Santa Clarita at (661) 250-3708. For more information regarding heroin and prescription drugs in Santa Clarita, visit the website or the Heroin Kills Facebook page.

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