Rep. Comstock on HIDTA Designation for Frederick County

Statement

Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement on the decision from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to designate Frederick County, Virginia as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), making Frederick eligible to receive federal resources to assist the County's drug control efforts:

"The community worked together hand-in-hand to get Frederick County designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Over the past 18 months, we have worked with our sheriffs and commonwealth attorneys, the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition, the Winchester Medical Center, and the recovery community on all of the aspects of the heroin problem. Our community is directly experiencing the pain and suffering associated with this epidemic that resulted in 22 overdose deaths in the region this year and even more hospitalizations. Many, if not most, of my constituents can point to a friend or family member who is or has been struggling with substance abuse. This designation means that our region will receive additional federal resources to assist in improving coordination among law enforcement, public health officials, educators, and concerned citizens to help get treatment and services to those in need while enabling the community to turn the tide against this drug crisis."

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