From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

A deadly mistake and a presidential apology.

Hello again, I'm Warren Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The president revealed today that CIA drones accidentally killed an American and an Italian

being held hostage by al-Qaeda in Pakistan.

As president and as commander-in-chief, I take full responsibility for all our counterterrorism operations.

It's the first public acknowledgement of its kind raising new questions about the drone program

and U.S. intelligence. Also today, two epidemics of drug addiction in Middle America have

victimized people who suffer from pain. We'll hear how brilliant marketing campaigns have led to

abuse of both legal prescription drugs and black tar heroin from Mexico.

First, here's the news.

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Hello again. We're on be back with To the Point.

Portsmouth, Ohio is the unlikely ground zero for parallel epidemics of drug addiction that have spread

nationwide. Expensive but legal painkillers have been overhyped by Big Pharma, creating a market for a cheaper form of relief,

black tar heroin from Mexico.

Congress is beginning to pay attention.

That's the second half of our program.

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