Daily Business Report — Oct. 10, 2012
Prescription Drug Misuse Leading
Cause of Accidental Death in County
Prescription drug misuse has now exceeded both motor-vehicle fatalities and illicit drug abuse as the leading cause of accidental death in San Diego County for the second year in a row, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office, sdnews.com reports. Last year, the coroner reported 267 such unintentional deaths, up from 228 the previous year. “One or two times a day, my firefighter paramedics respond to a narcotic overdose somewhere in the city. That’s about 500 times a year,” said James Dunford, medical director for the city of San Diego at a press conference on Sept. 28. “Last year in San Diego, our emergency departments treated 2,931 people for prescription drug misuse.” He said about 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs to get high for the first time each day in the United States, and 20 percent of 11th-grade students surveyed by San Diego County’s Methamphetamine Task Force admitted to using over-the-counter recreational drugs.
Work Out With The Sailors
Aboard the USS Midway
San Diegans asre invited to work out with sailors during “boot camp” fitness sessions on the USS Midway tomorrow from 7 to 8 a.m. The workouts will be led by military fitness instructors and will be conducted on the Midway’s flight deck. The event is one of several scheduled during the week to celebrate the Navy’s 237th birthday. Participants will test their physical fitness abilities against that of local active duty sailors in intermediate and hardcore advanced classes. Only persons 16 and older can participate. Bring a sweat rag and water. Pre-register at www.midway.org/flight-deck-boot-camp.
Law Enforcement Groups Endorse Filner for Mayor
Promising to strengthen the San Diego Police Department if elected mayor, Rep. Bob Filner (D-San Diego), announced his endorsement Tuesday by enforcement groups and state Attorney General Kamala Harris. Filner said he was “truly humbled” by the support shown to him by the San Diego Police Officers Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association and Police Officers Research Association of California. He is running in the Nov. 6 general election against City Councilman Carl DeMaio. In response to the endorsements, DeMaio said he has the “utmost respect for the men and woman who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. I look forward to working with them in a constructive manner to invest in public safety.” (City News Service)
Small Business Symposium to
Benefit Veterans With Disabilities
Veterans and military families can learn more about entrepreneurship and small business management at a Thursday symposium hosted by Humana Inc. in partnership with the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities. The symposium will begin with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Maurice Braun Ballroom at The Lodge at Torrey Pines at 11480 North Torrey Pines Road, San Diego. Featured speakers will be Brian Iglesias, a Marine officer, veteran of the war in Iraq and owner of Veterans Expeditionary Media, and Tim McClain, president of Humana’s government business. For more information, call For more information call (877) 823-2387.
Porter Novelli Promotes
Tricia Whittemore 
Porter Novelli has promoted Tricia Whittemore to account manager. Whittemore joined the public relations agency in 2004 and specializes in media relations, public outreach and writing communications. She currently manages the public outreach program for San Diego International Airport’s $1 billion improvement project, The Green Build, and provides media relations and internal communications support for a philanthropic investment firm. Whittemore is president of the Public Relations Society of America, San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter, and volunteers her time with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego.
The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.
