Rebecca L. Gay-Gregory, MBA, BSN, RN, CHPN
3569 Menoher Blvd.
Johnstown, PA 15905-5505
The Honorable Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senate
393 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Casey,
I write you concerning an issue that touches many constituents in Cambria County, Johnstown, Pennsylvania—increased overdose deaths due to heroin and prescription drug abuse. I have great concern over this increase.
The Center for Rural Pennsylvania‘s (2014, September) recently publicized report, Heroin: Combating this Epidemic in Pennsylvania, noted an increase of 470% of deaths related to heroin and opioid overdoses within the last twenty years, equating more deaths from drug overdoses than motor vehicle accidents in the age 20 to 44 population (p. 6). In rural Cambria County, the number of accidental drug poisoning deaths is 22.6 per 100,000 in population. This extremely high percentage equals the overdose death percentage of Philadelphia, which is an urban community, and presents the need for community awareness and preventative programs. I would like your legislative commitment against illicit drug diversion by helping increase educational funding for awareness and prevention programs.
I live and work as a registered nurse and teach healthcare administration courses for a local university. I propose that S. 348 (H.R. 672) might address funding for community education for reducing prescription drug abuse and misuse. In February 2013, Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV (WV) introduced S. 348, Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2013, with four cosponsors, Senators Gillibrand (NY), Manchin (WV), Shumer (NY), and yourself. This bill had a referral in February 2013 to one of your Committee appointments, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
S. 348 is not the only legislation that you cosponsored, though. Congressional records show that you cosponsored S. 1657 in May 2014. S. 1657, titled, Increasing the Safety of Prescription Drug Use Act of 2103, introduced November 2013 in the United States Senate by Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, provides implementation and support of databases by the States for monitoring of controlled substance prescriptions. S. 1657 also provides funding for training and continuing education programs for health care providers and considers the concept of over-the-counter naloxone for use by community and street outreach organizations and the establishment of proper disposal of opioid and prescription drugs.
Drug overdose prevention begins with a change in societal attitude towards the definition of abuse and misuse. Community education on a public and professional level could help reduce the drug abuse and misuse, as well, the deaths due to drug overdoses, S. 348 (H. R. 672) not only provides grant-funded education for consumers, but also, advanced practitioner training for opioid prescribed treatments. S.348 (H. R. 672) provides additional federal guidance for controlled substance monitoring programs, development of better mortality reporting and tracking, and other quality improvements for prevention and treatment programs.
Although treatment programs assist addicts in returning to productive citizens of the community, I believe a more proactive awareness and education before the person becomes an addict is a better solution. Families and friends need awareness of the signs that a person is beginning abuse and misuse of heroin and prescription drugs. We can reduce crime rates by increasing awareness and knowledge about this concern.
I value any progressive legislative action for reducing the opioid-related deaths from prescription drug abuse and misuse. If you can assist Pennsylvania by re-introducing the priorities of S. 348 in the United States Senate, the outcome would produce legislative action and funding against this destroying epidemic in my rural community. We need additional education on both public and professional levels for awareness of this life-ending epidemic. S. 1657 contains funding for professional development on prescription drug abuse and misuse.
I thank you for your consideration of my concern involving prescription drug abuse and misuse and related diversion or illicit activities for the constituents of Cambria County, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Please consider your legislative commitment for Pennsylvania by helping us with progressive legislation, such as, S. 348 and S. 1657, to increase educational funding for awareness and prevention programs.
Sincerely,
Rebecca L. Gay-Gregory, MBA, BSN, RN, CHPN