news

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) has announced that a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will participate in the forum addressing the opioid epidemic being held on Wednesday in Defiance. The forum is 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. In addition to a representative from HHS, representatives from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and local advocates will also be participating, as previously announced.
 
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.
 
Last week, Latta testified before the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee where he announced that he is crafting legislation to better track data and information on efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in order to develop the most effective ways to find solutions.
 
In addition, Congressman Latta released a public service announcement about the forum and encouraging people to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 28.
 

 
 
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.
 
###