The Pennsylvania House Human Services Committee, last week, approved a resolution to establish a task force to examine the rising trend in the use of heroin and abuse of prescription opioid drugs across the state reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
House Resolution 659 would direct the Joint State Government Commission to create a task force consisting of four members appointed by the Speaker of the House. It also calls for the formation of an advisory committee to include representatives from a wide variety of groups which are connected to the battle against drugs in Pennsylvania. The list would include the Department of Public Welfare, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, among others.
The prescription drug problem and heroin problem in Pennsylvania have reached epidemic levels with hundreds of overdoses and overdose deaths being reported across the Commonwealth, says Cox.