Originally published July 9, 2009 at 5:32 AM | Page modified July 9, 2009 at 5:58 PM

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Drug czar Kerlikowske says Jackson's death a wake-up call

The government's drug czar says that Michael Jackson's death is a wake-up call to the nation about prescription drug abuse.

WASHINGTON —

The government's drug czar says that Michael Jackson's death is a wake-up call to the nation about prescription drug abuse.

Gil Kerlikowske, chief of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, says more people are dying in the United States from drug overdoses than from gunshot wounds.

Kerlikowske said Thursday on CBS' "The Early Show" that parents are the key to addressing the problem of misuse of prescription drugs.

Kerlikowske says he's unable to talk about Jackson's untimely death while an official inquiry is still under way. But the drug czar emphasized that Jackson's death should alert the country to the peril posed by powerful drugs that can save lives when they are used properly.

Investigators looking into the cause of Jackson's death have homed in on drugs that were administered to the musician to fight his insomnia.

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Comments (41)

Wow! Such insight! No wonder Obama picked him for Drug Czar! Posted on July 9, 2009 at 10:55 AM by newspuppy. Jump to comment

It would be nice if he had some actual suggestions about what, exactly, he believes the problem is and what, if anything, he suggests be done about... Posted on July 9, 2009 at 9:55 AM by Grumpy Old Man. Jump to comment

Kerlikowski, you smoldering genius! You should have been a brain surgeon. Posted on July 9, 2009 at 11:11 AM by pipe5043. Jump to comment

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