Congresswoman: Houston’s death a turning point

By HLNtv.com Staff

updated 2:51 PM EST, Thu February 16, 2012

NEED TO KNOW

Rep. Mary Bono Mack wants to hold congressional hearings on prescription drug abuse

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Congresswoman: Houston’s death a turning point

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack hopes that Whitney Houston’s tragic death can be “a turning point in the struggle against prescription drug abuse in America.”

While we do not know the cause of Houston’s death, but we do know that she struggled with substance abuse and was taking prescription medications.

Congresswoman Mack told Jane Velez-Mitchell that doctors need to be better trained and more aware of just how serious the problem of prescription drug abuse is in this country. She says it's the fastest growing epidemic in the country, but that that can change.

Rep. Mack plans to hold congressional hearings on prescription drug abuse and hopes that the death of Whitney Houston will shed more light on prescription drug abuse in the country.

She told Jane Velez-Mitchell about her plans to this fight before congress.

Programming Note: All this week, tune in to HLN’s Nancy Grace at 8 p.m. ET, live from Hollywood, for up-to-the-minute details surrounding Whitney Houston's death, followed by Dr. Drew at 9 p.m. ET with more on the singer's battles with addiction. HLN will begin live coverage at 9 a.m. ET Saturday for funeral events in New Jersey on “Farewell to Whitney Houston.”

For more on the dangers of prescription drug abuse, tune into Jane Velez-Mitchell weeknights at 7 p.m. on HLN.

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