We Will Not Give Up the Fight Against Heroin and Opioid Abuse

The epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse hits home on many fronts in Pennsylvania and its victims are not forgotten. I have heard and told countless stories of lives cut short and families ruined by this scourge on society.

Awareness through reporting of this crisis can only help in the fight. And even as overdose death tolls are tallied and seem to mount, there is progress being made.

I chose to fight the opioid crisis head on. Here are some ways we have worked to combat the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania over the past year:

• My administration has participated in 91 opioid roundtable discussions and events across the state with advocates, medical professionals, law enforcement, first responders, recovering addicts, families, legislators.
• We have developed 45 treatment centers for those battling addiction. The centers began to take patients earlier this year, and they are already making progress to improve treatment.
• With the legislature, we have worked to limiting opioid prescriptions to minors, improved and increased education for opioid prescribers, strengthened the prescription drug monitoring program, and limited opioid prescriptions to emergency room patients.
• We have also expanded drop-off locations for unwanted prescription drugs and increased access to naloxone for individuals, law enforcement and first responders, resulting in thousands of lives saved.

Pennsylvania is facing a tremendous crisis, but we are working hard to meet the challenge.

Here in Pennsylvania, we can lead the nation in fighting this crisis.

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