State House Policy Committees Join to Discuss Opioid Problem

Next month, Pennsylvania legislators from both the Republican and Democratic Parties will meet with law enforcement, medical professionals and educators in a public setting to learn more about the state’s opioid problem.

Led by House Majority Policy Committee Chairman Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and House Minority Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), members of the House of Representatives and state Senate will travel to more than a half-dozen locales- including twice in Western Pennsylvania – to gather testimony from the above officials as well as employers, advocates and everyday Pennsylvanians to hear how opioids are impacting local communities.

Last month, Speaker of the House Mike Turzai made the request of Governor Tom Wolf to call a special session this fall to continue the work of addressing the addiction crisis. Gov. Wolf stood with members from both political parties to support the need for heightened attention on the issue.

“The epidemic we face is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue,” Benninghoff said. “It is a crisis impacting Pennsylvanians from every region, background and walk of life. Opioid addiction does not discriminate – it is killing our young people, our veterans, our friends, our family members and our neighbors. Working together is critical so we can get our arms around this growing crisis before it takes more precious lives.”

Last week, Gary Tuggle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug
Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division, released its annual Analysis of Drug Related Deaths report – showing that more than 3.300 drug-related overdose deaths – including in Armstrong County – were reported in 2015, an increase of nearly 25 percent from the total number of overdose deaths reported in 2014.

The report further indicated that heroin and/or at least one opioid were present in 81 percent of the decedents. The percentage of cocaine decedents also rose over the past year.

“The abuse of illicit street drugs and diverted pharmaceuticals continues to take too many lives and destroys families across Pennsylvania and the nation at large,” Tuggle said. “It is imperative that law enforcement, healthcare and treatment professionals, elected officials, and community groups work together to address the factors impacting availability, use, and abuse of these drugs.”

Armstrong County data showed that there was a rate of 43 drug-related overdose deaths per 100,000 residents last calendar year – the second-highest percentage of all 67 counties in the state. That also indicates a more than a 70 percent rate increase. Armstrong County was ranked 10th in 2014.

Of the 29 drug related overdose deaths reported, Fentanyl was the most-commonly found opioid while heroin was the most-commonly found illicit drug.

“With more than 3,300 Pennsylvanians succumbing to drug abuse in 2015, there exists a crisis among law enforcement, public health entities, and educators to address drug availability, drug treatment, and drug education. The findings of this assessment reinforce that the use and abuse of opiates, specifically heroin and Fentanyl, continue to impact Pennsylvania in a debilitating way,” researchers wrote in the report.

Those wishing to testify will discuss the effectiveness of current strategies used to combat addiction and what other tools, resources and services may be needed. These testimonies will lead state legislators to consider future policy recommendations this Fall.

The first hearing will be held Monday, Aug. 1 in Venango County. The closest hearing will either be the next day – August 2 – in Pittsburgh, or August 3 in Westmoreland County.

1 Comment

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  By soissisc, July 22, 2016 @ 12:39 PM

  Perhaps, if law enforcement could arrest the people who overdose and are saved with naloxone or something similar, then these people could be funneled into a recovery process? Or at the very least held through the withdrawal process. Something similar to a DUI arrest? How about if your overdose is reversed, then you get a blood test and if drugs are found in your blood, then you go to jail. Currently you have to be caught in the act of “doing” the drugs to be arrested. How many addicts have their overdoses repeatedly reversed? Ask a local EMT. You will be shocked.

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