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Letter to the Editor: Response to Trump campaign’s use of six-pointed star exposes liberals’ paranoia

W-B Area, Save Our Schools struggle with old wounds

<p>When addressing the devastating effects of opioid addiction, State Rep. Aaron Kaufer remembers having a &#8220;light bulb moment&#8221; that shaped his thinking.</p><p>&#8220;A young man came into my office, high and looking for assistance,&#8221; said Kaufer. &#8220;We called every state agency, and we couldn&#8217;t find help for him. When the door to recovery opens a crack, we need to be able to walk through it.&#8221;</p><p>Kaufer said promised himself right then that he would work to make recovery a reality for Pennsylvanians who abuse opioid and are unable to stop without help.</p><p>&#8220;This isn&#8217;t simply a talking point,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is a commitment to improve the lives of thousands of people in our state.&#8221;</p><p>U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said he shares Kaufer&#8217;s commitment to addressing the opioid abuse epidemic, and hopes federal legislation expected to pass the Senate this week will help address the abuse of opioids, including heroin.</p><p>The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), if passed, will expand prevention and education programs, improve addiction treatment and better equip law enforcement with tools to deal with the problems of heroin and opioid abuse.</p><p>According to Toomey, over 3,000 deaths in Pennsylvania were attributed to opiate overdoses last year, a 23-percent increase over 2014.</p><p>Toomey said he finds statistics released by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this week regarding opioid related deaths in the state during 2015 &#8220;disturbing.&#8221;</p><p>The senator said he fought hard for passage of the bill, and provided part of the bill that cuts down on the diversion of addictive painkillers to the black market.</p><p>&#8220;If a Medicare recipient is identified as a potentially abusing prescription drugs, that person will then be limited to one doctor and one pharmacy,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This will be cost effective and in identifying those potentially struggling with addiction, will then provide opportunity for recovery from addiction.&#8221;</p><p>Toomey said the legislation would allow drug and alcohol professionals to work toward optimal access to care and better treatment.</p><p>&#8220;This is the final step before this measure goes to the President&#8217;s desk for his signature and becomes law,&#8221; said Toomey.</p><p>Kaufer, chairman of the PA-HOPE (Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education) Caucus, said the effort is a bipartisan one.</p><p>&#8220;This summer the HOPE caucus and both policy committees of the state house will be holding hearings across the state, and we hope to then move toward legislation in the fall session,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Michael Donahue, Division Head for Luzerne County Human Services, said legislation that directs funding toward resources such as detox, stabilization and recovery will benefit individuals, families and society in the long term.</p><p>Donahue believes that underlying the political procedure and debate is a sincere concern for residents.</p><p>During a recent hearing at the West Side Career and Technology Center, hosted by Kaufer, Donahue said participating legislators &#8220;got it,&#8221; understanding that addiction is a treatable disease that affects individuals across the social and economic scope.</p><p>&#8220;I remember Aaron (Kaufer) making the comment at one point that &#8216;this isn&#8217;t political, it&#8217;s personal,&#8221; said Donahue. &#8220;And, I believe that.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Kaufer </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Kaufer_Aaron_mug_toned-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kaufer </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

State, federal legislators say attack on opiate addiction is bipartisan