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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) will host a forum addressing the opioid epidemic on Wednesday, October 18 in Schomburg Auditorium on the campus of Defiance College. Resource tables will open at 5:30 p.m. and the panel discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. Joining Rep. Latta will be representatives from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and local advocates.
 
For media that plans to attend the forum, please RSVP with Drew Griffin in Rep. Latta’s office at drew.griffin@mail.house.gov or 202-225-6405.
 
Opioid Forum Details
 
Who: Congressman Bob Latta, Representatives from the DEA, SAMHSA, and local advocates.
 
What: Forum on the opioid epidemic
 
When: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 18
Resource Tables Available from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Introductory Remarks Will Begin at 6:30 p.m.
 
Where: Schomburg Auditorium
Defiance College
701 N. Clinton St.
Defiance, OH 43512
 

Background

More than 2.1 million Americans are addicted to — or abuse — prescription opiate-based painkillers. More than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids. That number nearly doubled over the past decade according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 2016, 4,050 Ohio residents died of unintentional drug overdoses, the highest in the nation.
 
Rep. Latta is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over a majority of the bills aimed at stopping the opioid epidemic. As a member of the Committee, Rep. Latta helped craft the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act which were signed into law last year. Under these laws, policies have been implemented and resources have been provided to address the opioid epidemic including nearly $30 million of grant funding in Ohio.
 
The Energy and Commerce Committee will be debating further efforts to address this issue at a hearing in October.
 
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