Congresswoman Pingree Applauds Federal Money to Address Heroin Crisis

Press Release

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree applauded an announcement from the Office of National Drug Control Policy that $2.5 million would be used to fund a unique initiative among 15 states, including Maine, to address the recent rise in heroin overdoses and deaths. An additional $265,000 will be awarded to the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) to advance a range of drug-use prevention initiatives.

"I'm extremely concerned with the rapid rise of heroin overdoses and deaths that have overwhelmed communities in Maine and New England in recent months. It's a complicated and heartbreaking problem that knows no bounds when it comes to state lines or the distinctions between public safety and public health," said Pingree. "It's clear that our response must also transcend these boundaries. I commend the White House for seeing that a new approach is needed to confront the crisis quickly and effectively, with close coordination across multiple states and between law enforcement officers and public health officials. I'm eager to see what kind of impact this new initiative will have in Maine."

The $2.5 million will fund the Heroin Response Strategy, a partnership among five regional HIDTA programs--Appalachia, New England, Philadelphia/Camden, New York/New Jersey, and Washington/Baltimore. Each HIDTA will use funds to hire two regional coordinators, one with a public health focus and the other with a public safety focus, who will oversee a heroin response team.

The public health coordinator will track regional reporting of overdose information and distribute that information in real time to local health authorities to ensure that the highest-risk areas are prepared with the resources they need to save lives. The public safety coordinator will distribute intelligence from the region to relevant law enforcement authorities with a focus on disrupting the heroin supply.

Resources will also be developed to help prepare rural areas and municipalities inexperienced in heroin cases by increasing awareness about heroin and opiate addiction, prevention and treatment resources, and best practices for reporting lead information from overdose responses.

Each HIDTA will also host two conferences annually to foster collaboration across state lines and between professionals in the fields of public health and public safety.

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