Gov. Tom Wolf was joined by legislators, local officials, law enforcement and health care professionals at Northampton Community College recently to discuss local and statewide efforts to lead the nation in combating the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic in Pennsylvania.

“Fighting Pennsylvania’s opioid and heroin epidemic is a top priority for my administration,” Wolf said. “These round tables are an opportunity to work collaboratively with the general assembly and community leaders to ensure Pennsylvania leads the nation in the fight to combat the opioid abuse and heroin use crisis.”

Wolf was joined by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th; Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-135th; Rep. Dan McNeill, D-133rd; Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-22nd; Rep. Marcia Hahn, R-138th; Lehigh County Executive Tom Muller; Northampton County Executive John Brown; Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez; Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio; and numerous other local elected officials, public safety officers, coroners, public defenders, health officials and advocates.

“As I learned through Senate hearings I held on this issue earlier this year, this problem no longer affects someone from somewhere else,” Boscola said. “It’s our neighbor who was injured at work and became addicted to pain killers or it’s the kid next door who tried some Oxycontin that a friend stole from their parent’s medicine cabinet and sold them at school.

“Apart from the devastating human toll, this drug epidemic is spurring a new wave of crime, swelling our prisons and straining limited state and county treatment resources. I commend Gov. Tom Wolf and his administration for their aggressive, cooperative and comprehensive statewide approach to this deadly problem.”

“Through these forums, Wolf is bringing focus to the challenges communities face in addressing addiction,” Samuelson said. “Our discussion today highlighted the need to expand treatment options, and the governor’s budget request includes $34 million in new funding for treatment programs.”

The Wolf administration hopes these discussions are just the beginning of a larger conversation with both Republicans and Democrats in the house and senate, as well as local officials, law enforcement, emergency responders and healthcare professionals.

“I look forward to continue working collaboratively with the general assembly and community leaders to ensure Pennsylvania leads the nation in the fight to combat the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic,” said Wolf. “The magnitude of the addiction and overdose death epidemic in Pennsylvania is shocking: At least seven Pennsylvanians die every day from a drug overdose. With nearly 2,500 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2014 and estimates that the 2015 total will be higher, a collaborative effort on the federal, state and local levels is crucial in combating this crisis.”