Hearing focuses on increased heroin use in rural Pennsylvania Senator Schwank is hosting the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a legislative group looking at issues affecting rural parts of the state. Next Tuesdays (July 22) public hearing at Reading Area Community Colleges Schmidt Training and Technology Center will examine and discuss current policies and practices related to heroin and opioid addiction, including prevention, treatment and law enforcement efforts. Senator Schwank says she hopes information from the hearing can be used to develop legislative and regulatory action that may help to curb the use of these dangerous narcotics impacting rural Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, the number of fatal heroin overdoses has been steadily increasing. According to a 2014 report from the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association, there were 45 reported heroin deaths in 2009 and 124 reported heroin deaths by mid-2013. Officials say an increase in heroin use is occurring as addicts are shifting from more costly prescription opioids to cheaper alternatives.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 13:02:20 +0000
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