This week Governor John Hickenlooper announced a new campaign seeking to reduce prescription drug abuse and misuse in Colorado.
In partnership with the University of Colorado the state has launched its “Take Meds Seriously” campaign.
Robert Valuck, a professor of pharmacy at CU, is part of a statewide consortium created by the governor to address prescription drug abuse in Colorado.
"We say safe use, safe storage [and] safe disposal," Valuck says ."And that’s what our public awareness campaign is all about."
Valuck calls prescription drug abuse a serious public health problem.
"Every year in the neighborhood of 300 Coloradans die from prescription painkiller overdoses," he says.
For more information on the campaign visit takemedsseriously.org.